THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 


The  Mother  Owl  often  sits  with  her  young  on  the  branch  of  a  tree  and  "talks" 
to  them  as  if  she  were  teaching  them  some  of  her  own  wisdom 


THE 

HUMAN  SIDE 
OF  BIRDS 

BY 

ROYAL  DIXON 


WITH  FOUR  ILLUSTRATIONS  IN  COLOURS 
Br  S.  H.  WAINWRIGHT,  JR. 

AND  WITH  THIRTY-TWO  ILLUSTRATIONS 
FROM  PHOTOGRAPHS 


NEW  YORK 

FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  1917,  by 
FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY 


Ail  rights  reserve!,  including  that  of  translation 
into  foreign  languages 


TO 

CORNELIA  GAFFNEY 


2051934 


NOTE 

The  author  wishes  to  express  his  sincere  in- 
debtedness and  gratitude  to  Mr.  Franklyn  Everett 
Fitch  and  Mr.  Henry  Clay  Foster  for  their  valua- 
ble and  scholarly  assistance  in  the  final  prepara- 
tion of  this  book. 

He  acknowledges,  also,  his  indebtedness  to 
The  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  New 
York,  for  most  of  the  photographs  used  to  illus- 
trate the  book. 


FOREWORD 

"I  wish  I  did  his  power  possess 
That  I  might  learn,  fleet  bird,  from  theef 
What  our  vain  systems  only  guess, 
And  know  from  what  wild  wilderness 
You  came  across  the  sea." 

In  the  examination  of  some  aspects  and  forms 
of  life  it  is  often  best  to  cast  aside  the  complex  ma- 
chinery of  cold  and  calculating  analysis,  and  to 
look  only  with  the  eye  of  love  and  sympathy.  In 
this  work  it  is  my  purpose  to  reject  the  limitations 
of  unsympathetic  research,  and  to  endeavour  to  see 
beyond  formal  classifications,  and  to  understand  the 
spirit,  emotions  and  impulses  in  the  lives  of  our 
feathered  friends  of  the  air. 

By  this  means  many  new  discoveries  have  been 
made  which  include  a  universal  truth,  where  a  too 
minute  and  laborious  logic  would  have  proved  a 
hopeless  labyrinth.  The  syllogistic  method  sig- 
nally fails  to  comprehend  or  appreciate  the  real 
spiritual  beauty  of  the  life  of  other  species  than  our 
own.  It  ascribes  no  intelligence  or  spirituality  even 
to  birds,  and  brands  their  most  efficient  activities 
as  "instinctive." 

ix 


x       THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

In  THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  PLANTS  and  THE  HU- 
MAN SIDE  OF  TREES,  it  was  shown  that  our  plant 
and  vegetable  friends  not  only  have  habits  and  at- 
tributes that  in  many  respects  place  them  in  the 
category  with  man  himself,  but  that  they  possess 
faculties  and  powers  which  man  can  never  hope  to 
attain.  In  the  present  volume  it  is  proposed  to 
prove  that  our  bird  neighbours  not  only  do  prac- 
tically everything  that  man  does,  but  have  been 
doing  things  for  thousands  of  years  which  it  is 
doubtful  that  he  will  ever  do.  And  their  unerring 
judgment  and  knowledge  of  the  mysterious  and 
trackless  spaces  of  the  air  are  still  to  man  an  un- 
solved marvel! 

When,  after  being  raised  in  a  coop,  and  released 
after  a  journey  of  three  thousand  miles  in  a  closed 
box,  carrier-pigeons  return  to  their  starting-point 
with  unerring  exactness,  only  a  limited  mind  can 
accept  the  explanation  of  "instinct"  as  adequate. 
When  a  robin  confined  in  a  cage  for  seven  years, 
upon  being  set  free  flies  fifteen  miles  to  its  former 
home,  one  must  recognise  powers  of  marvellous 
memory  and  intelligence,  and  even  a  power  that 
man  does  not  comprehend,  in  the  bird  world.  When 
flocks  of  wild  birds  flee  several  days  in  advance  of  a 
great  storm,  and  ocean  birds  come  inland  for  the 
same  reason,  wonderful  psychic  understanding  is 


FOREWORD  xi 

surely  indicated,  and  the  stolid  dogmatism  of  the 
old  stand-patter  ornithologists  appears  more  inex- 
cusable. 

It  is  a  most  arrogant  attitude  that  man  assumes 
when  he  endeavours  to  explain  everything  in  terms 
of  his  own  life  and  mind.  What  he  does  not  him- 
self possess  or  understand  about  his  fellow  creatures 
he  glosses  over  with  such  terms  as  "instinct"  or 
"evolutionary  process."  This  persistent  effort  to 
reason  everything  out  in  preconceived  terms  places 
tremendous  limitations  upon  the  human  under- 
standing. We  should  maintain  a  thoroughly  open 
mind  and  approach  Nature  with  the  wonder  of  a 
child.  Profound  in  meaning  was  the  speech  of 
the  priest  of  Sais  to  the  Greek  Herodotus:  "You 
shall  be  children  ever." 

It  should  be  remembered  that  birds  have  a  life,  a 
point  of  view,  and  a  destiny  of  their  own,  and  that 
our  failure  to  comprehend  them  in  no  way  justifies 
us  in  concluding  that  they  are  in  every  sense  below 
us  in  the  scale  of  existence.  That  they  are  inferior 
in  many  ways  we  have  a  right  to  believe,  but  we 
should  be  eager  to  recognise  the  qualities  in  which 
they  excel.  Who  has  not  seen  a  look  of  majesty 
and  superiority  in  the  eyes  of  an  owl  or  of  an  eagle 
and  not  felt  a  vague  sense  of  awe  and  self-efface- 
ment? 


xii     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

If  we  approach  the  bird  with  the  right  attitude  of 
mind,  a  wonderful  experience  awaits  us.  John 
Burroughs,  the  great  American  naturalist,  says: 
"If  I  name  every  bird  in  my  walk,  describe  its  col- 
our and  ways,  .  .  .  give  a  lot  of  facts  and  details 
about  the  bird,  it  is  doubtful  if  my  reader  is  in- 
terested. But  if  I  relate  the  bird  in  some  way  to 
human  life,  to  my  own  life ;  show  what  it  is  to  me 
and  what  it  is  in  the  landscape  and  season,  then  do 
I  give  my  reader  a  live  bird  and  not  a  labelled 
specimen." 

This  is  the  secret  of  all  worth-while  nature  study. 
We  must  look  upon  a  bird  as  we  do  upon  a  man — 
not  merely  to  learn  the  Latin  names  of  bones  and 
muscles,  but  to  study  its  disposition,  character,  emo- 
tions, and  thought  processes.  In  other  words,  we 
must  treat  a  bird  as  a  friend  and  not  as  a  scientific 
specimen. 

There  is  no  quality  or  occupation  in  the  human 
world  which  does  not  have  a  parallel  in  the  bird 
world.  They  fill  all  professions  from  fishermen  to 
street-cleaners.  Woodpeckers  are  store-keepers; 
yellow-hammers  are  owners  of  wine-cellars;  wry- 
necks are  bakers  of  ant-cakes.  Other  birds  raise 
their  own  insects  for  provisions.  Birds  maintain 
labour  unions  and  military  organisations.  Their 
best  divers  go  to  depths  of  four  hundred  feet,  swal- 


FOREWORD  xiii 

lowing  pebbles  to  make  themselves  heavy  for  the 
purpose. 

In  physical  shape,  form  and  colour,  the  feathered 
folk  have  no  such  narrow  limitations  as  has  man. 
The  largest  was  the  elephant-bird  (now  extinct) 
which  was  five  times  the  size  of  the  African  ostrich ; 
the  smallest  is  a  tiny  purple  humming-bird  no 
larger  than  a  little  brown  bee.  Birds  inhabit  all 
places:  mountains,  oceans,  the  ground,  the  trees, 
caves,  the  Arctic  regions,  the  tropics,  the  air.  In 
each  place,  they  have  worked  out  a  marvellously 
well-ordered  existence.  The  Arctic  goose  has  even 
developed  a  special  sac  in  which  she  can  hatch  her 
eggs  in  the  extreme  cold  of  her  home. 

The  birds  have  a  distinct  social  life.  They  build 
the  most  artistic  and  best  equipped  homes  of  all 
non-human  beings.  They  entertain  extensively 
and  have  many  convivial  gatherings.  Their  family 
life  is  exceptionally  moral,  though  there  are  a  few 
polygamists  among  them.  Divorce  is  rare,  but 
suicide  is  often  the  natural  outcome  of  deep  dis- 
grace. 

There  are  birds  of  as  many  shades  of  character 
and  disposition  as  there  are  types  of  people.  There 
are  the  gay,  the  sad;  the  sociable,  the  reserved;  the 
trustful,  the  shy;  the  frank,  the  deceitful;  the  hon- 
est, the  dishonest ;  the  gentle,  the  violent ;  the  peace- 


xiv    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

ful,  the  quarrelsome;  and  so  on.  However,  it 
should  be  emphasised  that  the  prevailing  note  of 
birddom  is  one  of  happiness  and  good  cheer.  As  a 
rule  only  sick  birds,  a  few  nocturnal  birds,  and  car- 
rion birds  are  mopish. 

From  the  point  of  view  of  appearance  and  char- 
acteristics every  bird  has  a  counterpart  in  the  animal 
kingdom.  It  requires  little  imagination  to  see  in 
the  bateleur  eagle  a  feathered  lion;  in  the  night- 
prowling  owl  a  cat ;  in  the  cunning  hawk  a  fox ;  in 
the  scavenger  vulture  a  hyena ;  in  the  raven  a  mis- 
chievous dog;  in  the  imitating  parrot  a  monkey;  in 
the  ostrich,  the  "feathered  beast  of  burden,"  a 
camel;  in  the  blood-thirsty  butcher-bird  a  weasel;  in 
the  gnawing  crossbill  a  squirrel ;  in  the  house-wren  a 
mouse;  in  the  cassawary  a  llama;  in  the  duck  the 
duck-mole  (duck-billed  platypus) ;  in  the  bustard  a 
stag;  in  the  croaking  bittern  of  the  marshes  a  bull- 
frog; in  the  tooth-billed  falcon  an  alligator;  in  the 
elephant-bird  an  elephant ;  in  the  meat-bird  a  pan- 
ther; in  the  oyster-catcher  a  raccoon;  in  the  scale- 
bird  an  armadillo;  and  even  in  the  jackass-penguin 
a  jackass! 

The  nomenclature  of  birds  is  all-embracing,  and 
ranges  from  the  skunk-bird  to  the  bird-of-the-Holy- 
Ghost,  from  the  dove  of  the  Ark  to  the  raven  that 
fed  Elijah.  The  ibis  was  once  worshipped  in 


FOREWORD  xv 

Egypt ;  even  to-day  there  are  sacred  birds  in  many 
parts  of  the  world. 

Birds  are  naturally  very  friendly  to  man.  With 
the  exception  of  certain  peculiar  species,  they  begin 
to  fear  him  only  when  they  know  him.  When  he 
appears  among  the  feathered  denizens  of  unin- 
habited regions,  they  look  at  him  with  astonishment 
but  not  with  fear.  Auks  and  penguins  of  the  Ant- 
arctic could  once  be  caught  with  the  hand.  There 
are  numerous  instances  of  wild  birds  seeking  human 
protection  when  pursued  by  some  relentless  foe. 
Sometimes  they  fly  into  houses  for  shelter;  par- 
tridges have  been  known  to  throw  themselves  at 
the  feet  of  woodsmen  when  hard  pressed  by  a  hawk. 

On  man's  behalf  it  must  be  said  that  he  often 
reciprocates  this  affection.  He  most  often  gives 
animals  friendship  because  of  services  which  they 
render  him,  but  he  gives  birds  his  affection  because 
of  his  love  for  their  companionship,  quite  as  much 
as  for  their  charm  and  beauty.  He  likes  to  have 
them  about  him ;  he  delights  in  their  songs  and  the 
exquisite  colourings  of  their  plumage. 

In  fact,  too  often  he  grows  unduly  fond  of  this 
plumage,  and  his  wife  covets  the  beautiful  feath- 
ers for  her  own  decoration.  Then  it  is  that  soulless 
men  go  out  and  slaughter  the  unoffending  songsters 
by  the  thousands  for  their  feathers,  that  they  may 


xvi    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

sell  them!  Many  more  thousands  are  killed  for 
their  flesh,  and  often  men  murder  them  only  for  the 
mere  gratification  of  a  low  passion  for  destruction 
of  life.  Thus  species  after  species,  the  world  over, 
has  been  exterminated,  and  in  many  countries  only 
the  most  rigorous  game  laws  prevent  wholesale  an- 
nihilation. 

How  short-sighted  is  man!  Even  if  he  cannot 
realise  that  he  is  killing  a  fellow  creature  in  feath- 
ers, a  being  which  has  joys,  hopes,  ambitions,  and  a 
well-filled  life — one  that  is  quite  as  necessary  to  the 
world's  economy  as  his  slayer — he  ought  easily  to 
see  that  he  is  forcing  to  extinction  an  agency  which 
is  a  conserver  of  civilisation  itself.  As  Michelet 
truly  says:  "Barbarous  is  the  science,  the  hard 
pride,  which  disparages  to  such  an  extent  animated 
nature,  and  raises  so  impassable  a  barrier  between 
man  and  his  inferior  brothers!" 

To-day  every  one  is  awakened  to  the  necessity  of 
forest  preservation.  The  day  that  our  woodlands 
fall  below  a  certain  minimum  area,  that  day  our 
decadence  will  begin.  The  day  that  our  birds  are 
slaughtered  to  a  certain  point,  that  day  the  forests 
are  doomed.  The  birds  perform  invaluable  serv- 
ices in  keeping  down  the  numbers  of  destructive 
insects,  which,  if  allowed  full  sweep,  would  speedily 
destroy  all  trees,  Of  the  vast  sums  of  money  now 


FOREWORD  xvii 

being  poured  into  forest  reserves  some  of  the  mil- 
lions should  be  expended  on  behalf  of  our  feathered 
friends. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  reader  will  enter  the 
following  pages  with  a  sympathetic  appreciation 
of  the  kinship  of  man  and  bird — fellow-mortals  that 
face  the  same  problems  and  difficulties,  and  solve 
them  by  methods  strikingly  similar.  In  fact,  we 
cannot  but  feel  a  certain  reverence  for  the  lore  of 
bird  life  when  we  reflect  that  man  can  conceive  of 
no  higher  state  than  one  in  which  he  himself  is 
equipped  with  a  pair  of  wings. 

ROYAL  DIXON. 
New  York, 
May,  1917. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

FOREWORD            ......  ix 

I     FEATHERED  ARTISTS    .          .          .          .          .  1 

II     CLIFF-DWELLERS  AND  MOUND-BUILDERS         .  17 

III  POLICEMEN  OF  THE  AIR       ....  36 

IV  DANCERS    .......  51 

V     FEATHERED  ATHLETES         ....  67 

VI     PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS              .         -.         .  86 

VII     GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS  .         .         .         .         .106 

VIII     SCAVENGERS  AND  STREET  CLEANERS      .          .  123 

IX     COURTS  OF  JUSTICE      .....  139 

X     BIRDS  AND  THEIR  BEAUTY  PARLOURS    .          .  153 

XI     AVIATORS   .......  172 

XII     BIRD  FISHERMEN 186 

XIII     MIMICS  AND  VENTRILOQUISTS  AMONG  BIRDS    .  206 

XIV     BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEIR  THEATRES  223 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

The  Mother  Owl  often  sits  with  her  young  on  the  branch 
of  a  tree  and  "talks"  to  them  as  if  she  were  teach- 
ing them  some  of  her  own  wisdom  (in  Col- 
ours) .  .  .  .  .  .  Frontispiece 

FACING 
PAOB 

The  artistic  home  of  the  crested  cassique  ...  3 
The  nest  of  the  chestnut-shouldered  oriole  (Paraguay)  3 
The  egret  is  one  of  the  most  clever  of  bird  artists  .  10 
Egret  artists  at  home  in  South  Carolina  .  .  .11 

The  cliff  home  of  the  duck  hawk   (Palisades,  Hudson 

River) 18 

Cedar  birds  often  build  their  homes  in  tiers  in  tall  cedar- 
trees  ........      19 

The  penguins  are  social  birds  who  live  together  in  colo- 
nies  near   the   sea,   making   of   the   cliffs   a   city   of 
penguin   apartment   houses    (in    Colours)         .  .      SO 

The  golden  eagle  and  its  eerie  home  (Wyoming)   .          .      40 
The  barrel  owl,  a  policeman  of  the  night        .  .  .41 

Prairie  chickens  on  one  of  their  dancing-grounds   .  .      52 

The  ruffled  grouse  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  the 

dancing  birds      .  .  .  .  .  .  .53 

The  great  blue  heron  is  well  equipped  by  Nature  to  be 

an   athlete  .          .          .          .          .          .          .70 

The  grebe  has  no  rival  as  a  water  bird       .          .          .71 
A  mother  quail  on  guard  over  her  nest          .  .  .82 

A  black-billed  cuckoo  and  two  yellow-billed  cuckoos  in  a 

yellow-bill's  nest          .          .          .          .          .          .83 

The  great  auk,  one  of  the  extinct  giant  road-makers  .  108 
The  restoration  of  a  dodo  bird  (American  Museum  of 

Natural  History,  New  York)        .          .          .          .109 


xxii  ILLUSTRATIONS 

tMora 

PAO» 

Turkeys  are  famous  for  their  road-making  .  .  .114 

The  partridge,  a  road-builder  of  California  .  .  .  J15 
A  kingfisher  in  the  act  of  swallowing  his  prey  .  .132 

A  rose-breasted  grosbeak  feeding  her  young  .  .133 
The  owl  and  the  crow  in  close  conversation  .  .  .146 
The  toucan,  with  his  extraordinary  saw-edged  bill,  can 

well  defend  himself   .          .          .          .          .          .14? 

Humming-birds  are  most  at  home  among  the  orchids  of 

the  tropics,  and  are  as  varied  in  form  and  colour 

as  are  the  orchids  themselves  (in  Colours)  .  .162 

The  American  crossbill  on  a  twig  that  sets  him  off  to  the 

greatest  advantage      .          .          .          .          .          .168 

The  oriole's  "beauty  parlour"  is  his  unique  home  .  169 
The  osprey  rarely  fishes  for  himself,  as  he  finds  it  easier 

to  waylay  other  fishers  and  rob  them  (in  Colours)  188 
"Every  minute  of  the  day  numbers  of  fish  are  brought 

by  the  parent  birds  to  their  ever  hungry  young." 

(White    pelicans)         ......    1Q2 

Brown  pelicans  often  use  strategy  in  their  fishing  .  .  1Q3 
The  sandhill  cranes  in  their  natural  habitat  .  .  .  202 

The  wood-duck  fishes  in  small  ponds  .  .  .  203 

The  ptarmigan  changes  the  colour  of  his  feathers  to 

match  the  background  .....  208 
The  birds  of  the  Far  North  who  adapt  their  plumage  to 

the  changing  snow-fields  .....  20Q 
A  mother  grouse  of  the  Sierras,  California  .  .  .  220 

Young  marsh  hawks  safely  hidden  away  in  the  tall  grass  221 


THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 


CHAPTER  I 

FEATHERED   ARTISTS 

It  wins  my  admiration 
To  view  the  structure  of  that  little  work, 
A  bird  nest.     Mark  it  well,  within,  without; 
No  tool  had  he  that  wrought,  no  knife  to  cut, 
No  nail  to  fix,  no  bodkin  to  insert, 
No  glue  to  join;  his  little  beak  was  all, 
And  yet,  how  neatly  finished!    What  nice  hand, 
With  every  implement  and  means  of  art, 
And  twenty  years'  apprenticeship  to  boot, 
Could  make  me  such  another"?    Fondly  then 
We  boast  of  excellence,  whose  noblest  skill 
Instinctive  genius  foils. 

,—Hurdis  "The  Linnet." 

PERHAPS  in  no  better  way  do  our  little 
brothers  of  the  air  show  that  they  possess 
considerable  knowledge  of  the  arts,  and  that  they 
are  continually  improving  that  knowledge,  than  by 
the  marvellous  homes  and  miniature  palaces  they 
create  and  decorate  for  themselves.  Birds  learn  by 


2       THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

experience  and  observation  just  the  same  as  man- 
kind. And  the  more  experience  a  bird  has  the 
greater  its  fund  of  knowledge. 

In  the  arts  they  are  indeed  our  brothers;  some- 
times our  best  teachers.  No  better  pattern  of  art 
can  be  found  than  the  nest  of  the  long-tailed  tit; 
unless  it  is  that  of  his  fellow-workman  and  imitator, 
the  chaffinch.  His  sense  of  beauty  and  proportion 
bespeaks  ages  of  art  culture.  The  nest  is  often 
placed  among  the  tiny  grey  boughs  of  the  rhodo- 
dendron, just  beneath  two  glorious  bunches  of 
crimson  blossoms  in  such  a  manner  that  one  must 
believe  it  was  made  for  display  as  well  as  for  com- 
fort. Surely  it  was  never  meant  to  be  concealed! 

Few  artists  of  the  bird-world  fail  to  carry  out  a 
colour  scheme.  Exceptions  are  to  be  found  among 
the  ground  birds,  which  lay  eggs  practically  invisi- 
ble. Nature  is  very  kind  and  wise,  and  only  those 
eggs  are  colourless  which  are  laid  in  hollows  and 
caves  where  no  one  can  see  them.  We  find  colour- 
less eggs  among  the  woodpeckers,  owls,  and  wry- 
necks. One  might  walk  over  the  plover's  or  sand- 
piper's nest  in  the  sand  without  seeing  it.  But 
among  the  blue  jays,  sparrows,  finches,  bluebirds, 
and  numerous  others,  delicate  colourings  are  liter- 
ally lavished  on  the  eggs,  often  in  definite  patterns. 
Surely  the  birds  enjoy  nature's  art!  John  Clare 


THE  ARTISTIC  HOME  OF  THE  CRESTED  CASSIQUE 


THE  NEST  OF  THE  CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED  ORIOLE  (PARAGUAY) 


FEATHERED  ARTISTS  3 

wonderfully  describes  the  eggs  of  the  yellow-ham- 
mer in  the  following  lines: 

"Five  eggs,  pen-scribbled  o'er  with  ink  their  shells, 
Resembling  writing-scrolls,  which  Fancy  reads 
As  nature's  poesy  and  pastoral  spells — 
They  are  the  yellow-hammer's,  and  she  dwells, 
Most  poet-like,  'mid  brooks  and  flowery  weeds." 

We  judge  an  architect  by  the  buildings  he  rears; 
and  so  we  must  judge  the  consciousness  of  beauty 
and  art  on  the  part  of  the  birds  by  the  manner  in 
which  they  build  their  nests,  decorate  their  homes, 
and  sometimes  themselves. 

This  is  especially  true  as  to  the  gardener-bird,  the 
baya  of  India,  the  bower-bird,  the  collar-bird,  and  a 
number  of  other  artists  whose  highly  developed  es- 
thetic qualities  are  demonstrated  in  their  efforts  to 
produce  art,  and  to  decorate  their  homes  in  accord- 
ance with  the  best  principles  of  form  and  colour. 
The  motmot  even  goes  so  far  as  to  disfigure  its 
feathers  in  the  attempt  to  improve  the  shape  of  its 
tail,  while  the  gardener-bird  and  the  hammerhead 
have  little  places  near  their  homes  that  might  be 
termed  their  art  shops.  Here  they  store  gaily- 
coloured  shells,  gaudy  pebbles,  dried  flowers,  rich 
feathers,  and  various  small  bits  of  broken  wood  and 
pieces  of  red  clay. 


4       THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

Among  the  cleverest  of  the  artists  is  the  diock, 
of  the  weaver  family.  His  home  is  in  Africa,  and 
he  is  an  expert  in  the  weaving  of  colour  into  the  pat- 
terns of  his  nest.  The  finished  house  is  a  thing  of 
great  charm:  soft  and  tinted  mosses  are  twined  to- 
gether with  almost  cameo  precision ;  red,  brown,  and 
dark  green  grasses  are  fashioned  into  the  side  of 
the  nest  like  attached  draperies. 

The  diock  is  very  sociable.  While  he  never  in- 
dulges in  afternoon  tea,  he  does  enjoy  a  sociable 
drink  at  the  nearest  spring,  where  he  can  talk  over 
with  his  friends  all  the  gossip  of  birdland.  But 
some  of  the  older  and  wiser  feathered  artists  must 
always  remain  on  the  lookout  for  enemies  during 
these  parties.  The  hordes  of  tiny  singers  go  very 
near  to  the  water's  edge  and  arrange  themselves 
comfortably  among  the  branches  of  the  trees.  One 
by  one  they  dive  down  to  drink  the  cool  water  below 
while  the  others  sing.  But  during  this  time  several 
wise  heads  are  higher  up  among  the  tree  branches 
watching  for  hawks. 

The  Baltimore  oriole  is  famous  as  a  decorative 
artist.  The  materials  he  uses  are  collected  from 
fields,  gardens,  and  even  yards:  he  is  by  no  means 
shy  about  approaching  a  window  where  he  sees  yarn 
and  bits  of  gaily  coloured  thread.  The  brighter  the 
colours,  the  better  for  his  work. 


FEATHERED  ARTISTS  5 

Once  having  selected  a  place  for  his  home,  he  sets 
to  work  to  collect  the  material.  And  when  the  task 
is  completed,  everything — from  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ori- 
ole to  the  swinging,  aerial  nest — harmonises  per- 
fectly. How  picturesque  to  see  this  little  palace 
swinging  in  the  air  filled  with  four  tiny  babies! 

No  class  of  artists  excels  the  humming-birds. 
Their  nests  are  wonders  of  beauty,  delicacy,  and 
architecture.  A  friend  of  mine,  Miss  Warner,  has 
one  of  these  treasures  which  she  values  very  highly. 
It  is  a  nest  of  the  ruby-throated  humming-bird,  and 
is  snugly  built  upon  a  tiny  grey  apple  bough.  The 
material  used  is  the  most  delicate  plant  down  and 
dried  flower  petals  held  together  with  silvery  spi- 
der's web.  The  outside  is  exquisitely  decorated 
with  greyish- white  lichens,  while  the  inside  is  like  a 
silver-lined  baby's  thimble.  It  resembles  nothing 
so  much  as  a  small  thimble-like  knot  on  an  apple 
bough.  What  an  art  palace  for  the  little  birds ! 

Humming-birds  are  artists  not  only  in  the  mak- 
ing of  their  homes,  but  in  their  care  of  dress  as 
well.  The  puff -legs  wear  the  daintiest  muffs  of 
cottony  down,  of  white,  black,  buff,  or  brown,  ac- 
cording to  the  species.  The  glowing  puff-leg  is 
the  most  beautiful.  Its  tail  feathers  are  so  daz- 
zling in  their  beauty  and  wonder,  that  it  has  never 
been  excelled,  if  ever  equalled,  by  bird,  flower,  or 


butterfly.  The  distinguished  ornithologist,  John 
Gould,  in  his  Monograph  of  the  Trochilidw,  says: 
"Every  one  who,  for  the  first  time,  finds  himself 
in  front  of  the  compartment  of  my  collection  in 
which  this  species  is  placed,  gives  utterance  to  some 
exclamation  expressive  of  the  admiration  excited 
by  its  striking  beauty  and  the  glowworm-like  splen- 
dour of  its  upper  tail-coverts.  This  brilliancy  is 
more  apparent  at  certain  hours  of  the  day;  for  in- 
stance, it  is  more  beautiful  in  the  evening  after  sun- 
set than  at  midday,  the  brilliancy  being  relieved  by 
the  dark  hue  of  the  tail-feathers.  It  is  unquestion- 
ably one  of  the  finest  species  of  the  genus,  and 
one  of  the  most  resplendent  of  the  Trochilidae; 
would  that  it  were  possible  for  me  even  faintly  to 
depict  it!" 

The  Syrian  nuthatch  builds  a  nest  of  red  and 
brown  clay,  and  the  outside  is  covered  over  with  the 
iridescent  gossamer  wings  of  numerous  beetles  and 
other  insects.  The  dwarf  swift  of  Africa  decorates 
her  front  yard — a  part  of  the  thick  palm  leaf  on 
which  her  nest  is  built — by  gluing  her  tiny  babies 
onto  the  leaf.  Here  the  baby  jewels  sparkle  like 
living  diamonds  as  the  breezes  swing  them  to  and 
fro  in  the  air.  Their  mother's  jewels  indeed  I 

The  baya  bird,  another  of  the  weaver  family, 
builds  a  veritable  fairy  palace,  which  is  illuminated 


FEATHERED  ARTISTS  7 

with  tiny  living  lamps.  There  is  a  living-room 
below,  and  above  are  two  other  rooms:  one  a  nurs- 
ery, the  other  a  rest-room  for  poor  Mr.  Baya, 
whose  family  cares  are  most  fatiguing.  This  inter- 
esting bottle-shaped  house  is  built  of  strips  of  grass 
skilfully  woven  together.  It  is  as  compact  as  a 
sofa-cushion,  with  a  long  rope-like  neck  which  is  tied 
to  a  limb  in  the  most  ingenious  manner.  The  en- 
trance and  exit  to  Mr.  Baya's  house  are  two  holes 
at  the  bottom  of  the  entire  structure. 

These  strange  artists  delight  in  building  their 
nests  in  groups  of  from  twenty  to  fifty,  swinging 
like  so  many  graceful  fruits  from  the  eaves  of  hu- 
man habitations.  With  their  precious  little  treas- 
ures they  sway  to  and  fro  in  the  wind  like  swinging 
cradles. 

The  Baya  family  are  really  human  in  their  sense 
of  luxury ;  and  their  tastes  do  not  stop  in  producing 
a  house  of  mere  architectural  elegance,  but  incor- 
porate as  well  features  of  decorative  and  practical 
value.  For  as  soon  as  Mrs.  Baya  has  the  inside  of 
her  bed-chamber  arranged,  Father  Baya  goes  away 
to  find  fresh  red  clay  for  the  decoration  of  the  walls. 
Soon  the  inner  ones  are  covered  with  this  clay,  and 
often  before  it  has  time  to  dry  and  harden  he  has 
captured  a  number  of  fireflies ;  these  not  only  make 
very  good  food  for  Mrs.  Baya  but,  adhering  to  the 


8       THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

clay  walls,  they  light  the  chamber  beautifully  with 
a  phosphorescent  glow,  so  that  the  house  looks  like 
a  fairy  palace  in  the  dark. 

In  the  building  of  dainty,  wildwood  bungalows, 
a  species  of  warbler,  called  the  tailor-bird,  displays 
a  remarkable  esthetic  taste.  With  astonishing 
skill  he  sews  together  with  plant  fibre  the  edges  of 
a  broad  leaf,  or  of  two  leaves,  forming  a  dainty  lit- 
tle deep  cup  of  living  green.  In  it  is  built  a  luxuri- 
ous nest  of  tan  grasses  of  fine  texture,  lined  with 
thistle  down  and  dried  flower  petals.  A  cradle  in- 
deed fit  for  the  gods! 

A  landscape  artist  of  world  fame  is  the  gardener- 
bird.  He  does  not  care  so  much  about  his  nest,  but 
his  yard  is  where  his  artistic  genius  finds  highest  ex- 
pression. He  is  a  naturalist,  an  architect,  and  a 
landscape  artist  combined! 

The  manner  in  which  he  beautifies  his  garden 
is  most  extraordinary.  The  noted  naturalist,  De 
Bessari,  claims  that  this  bird-artist  seeks  a  level 
spot  on  which  grows  a  bush  or  shrub  about  the 
thickness  of  a  walking-cane.  "This  is  made  the 
central  pillar  of  the  edifice,  and  serves,  at  about  two 
feet  from  the  ground,  to  fasten  the  framework  of 
the  roof  to.  It  is  held  in  place  by  an  embankment 
of  moss  built  up  around  the  root.  After  the  frame- 
work is  formed,  other  stems  are  woven  in  and  out 


FEATHERED  ARTISTS  9 

until  a  water-proof  roof  is  made.  Then  a  gallery 
is  constructed,  running  around  the  interior  of  the 
edifice.  When  completed  the  whole  structure  is 
three  feet  or  more  in  diameter  at  the  base,  is  tent- 
shaped,  and  has  a  large  arched  opening  for  a  door- 
Way. 

"Around  the  house  are  artistically  arranged 
grounds,  made  green  and  lawn-like  by  being  cov- 
ered with  patches  of  moss  brought  hither  for  the 
purpose.  Bright-coloured  flowers  and  fruits  and 
fungi  are  disposed  about  the  premises;  and  even 
brilliant-hued  insects  are  captured  and  placed  here 
and  there  on  the  grounds  to  add  to  their  attractive- 
ness. The  inner  gallery  of  the  house  is  also  deco- 
rated with  these  bright  objects,  which  are  removed 
and  replaced  as  they  fade.  Moreover,  and  with 
evident  design,  the  material  of  which  the  house  is 
built  is  a  species  of  orchid,  which  retains  its  fresh- 
ness for  a  very  long  time." 

These  interesting  artist  homes  are  made  as  places 
for  social  gatherings  to  talk  over  the  affairs  of  bird- 
land,  and  also  for  rest  and  recreation.  The  bird  has 
a  real  joy  in  restful  places  and  attractive  scenery; 
and  the  genuine  bird-artist  can  beautify  the  ugliest 
spot  quite  as  well  as  his  big  brother,  man. 

The  Acadian  flycatcher  really  belongs  to  the 
impressionistic  school  of  art.  It  is  quite  evident 


10     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

that  these  birds  try  to  see  how  very  odd  they  can  be. 
They  are  common  in  eastern  Pennsylvania  during 
the  breeding  season,  and  their  strange  homes  are  the 
wonder  of  those  who  find  them.  These  nests  are 
built  with  dry  blossoms  of  the  hickory  tree,  and  also 
of  long  strips  of  the  inner  bark  of  different  trees. 
They  are  sometimes  modelled  into  a  compactly 
built,  cup-like  cavity,  from  which  hangs  a  gradu- 
ally tapering  mass  so  shaped  and  trimmed  with 
small  twigs  as  to  appear  like  coiled  moss,  wound  by 
the  wind.  This  interesting  tassel  of  ornament  is 
from  seven  to  nine  inches  in  length. 

The  long-billed  marsh  wren  delights  in  spherical 
nests.  In  early  May,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wren  seek  a 
suitable,  low  bush,  and  here  amid  the  brackish 
marshes  of  the  seashore,  away  from  the  haunts  of 
man,  they  weave  out  of  dry  grasses  the  most  ex- 
quisite little  nest,  just  out  of  reach  of  the  tides.  Its 
form  is  globular,  and  it  is  artistically  seamed  with 
brown,  yellow,  and  grey  cottony  down.  A  delicate 
curtain  of  reddish  brown  surrounds  the  entrance; 
and  inside  the  nest  is  a  downy  lining  which  the  most 
fastidious  decorator  might  envy. 

Man  could  never  make  with  all  the  appliances  at 
his  command  a  thing  so  graceful,  so  fairy-like,  as 
the  delicate  lace  hammock  of  the  Parula  warbler. 
It  is  often  seen  swinging  over  a  stream  from  the 


THE  EGRET  IS  ONE  OF  THE  MOST  CLEVER  OF  BIRD  ARTISTS 


EGRET  ARTISTS  AT  HOME  IN  SOUTH  CAROLINA 


FEATHERED  ARTISTS  11 

branch  of  a  hemlock  or  spruce  tree.  It  is  like  a 
delicate  jewel  suspended  on  a  spider's  web;  and 
the  artists  have  selected  the  most  suitable  colours 
from  the  greyish  green  mosses  out  of  which  to  make 
it.  These  miniature  birds  have  slate-blue  backs 
and  orange-yellow  breasts,  and  these  colours  quite 
harmonise  with  the  colours  of  their  eyrie  and  jewel- 
like  nests.  Mr.  Warbler  redecorates  the  house 
anew  every  day,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  to  see 
petals  of  the  yellow  daffodils  gracefully  stuck  into 
the  walls.  He  is  an  artist  even  in  his  attention  to 
his  devoted  mate! 

The  red-winged  blackbird  builds  a  most  unusual 
nest  in  the  form  of  an  inverted  cone.  These  charm- 
ing artists  of  the  swamp-lands  fill  the  air  with  loud, 
clear,  resonant  notes.  And  while  their  homes  are 
at  times  somewhat  bulky  in  appearance,  yet  they  are 
most  often  so  symmetrically  and  compactly  woven 
into  the  cat-tails  that  they  are  beautifully  artistic 
in  appearance.  The  outer  covering  is  made  of 
grasses  and  rushes,  while  within  is  a  delicate  lining 
of  thistle  from  hawkweed,  dandelion,  and  other  soft 
materials. 

In  the  Rio  Grande  Valley  is  a  cousin  of  the  east- 
ern motmot,  known  locally  as  the  saw-bill,  though 
scientifically  called  the  blue-crowned  motmot.  The 
top  of  its  head  is  covered  with  a  tuft  of  blue  feath- 


ers  which  it  can  raise  or  lower  at  will.  Above  each 
eye  is  a  black  triangle,  and  a  black  spot  trimmed  in 
blue  adorns  its  breast;  the  rest  of  the  plumage  is 
dark  green.  This  unusual  bird  has  a  tail  nine 
inches  long,  and  presents  a  most  striking  appear- 
ance. Yet  he  is  not  satisfied  with  the  beauty  nature 
gave  him,  and  so  as  soon  as  he  reaches  the  adult 
age  he  begins  to  trim  his  tail  feathers  in  the  most 
fitting  style. 

The  two  centre  feathers  of  his  tail  always  pro- 
ject far  beyond  the  others.  They  are  smooth- 
edged  with  rounded  tips,  and  as  soon  as  the  mot- 
mot  is  grown  he  begins  to  cut  the  webs  away  on  each 
side  of  the  spine.  No  one  who  has  seen  him  have  a 
mishap  and  cut  the  feathers  in  an  unbecoming  fash- 
ion, can  ever  doubt  that  he  does  it  for  the  same  rea- 
son that  people  trim  their  hair  and  powder  their 
faces. 

These  interesting  facts  prove  beyond  a  doubt 
that  birds  have  a  love  of  the  beautiful,  and  as  artists 
are  in  many  ways  like  human  beings.  They  are  our 
tiny  feathered  artists  of  the  air.  Of  course,  not  all 
birds  have  the  artist's  love  of  the  beautiful  in  the 
same  degree.  Certain  pigeons  build  their  nests  of 
a  few  sticks,  just  as  fishermen  build  huts  of  drift- 
wood and  straw.  Some  swallows  and  kingfishers 
build  nests  in  burrowed  caves;  and  in  many  parts 


FEATHERED  ARTISTS  13 

of  the  world,  as  on  the  plains  of  Texas,  one-fourth 
of  the  human  beings  live  in  dug-outs.  Robins  build 
their  homes  of  mud  and  straw;  and  many  farmers 
build  houses  of  mud  and  moss.  There  are  birds 
who  prefer  gay  colours  in  their  homes,  and  many 
kinds  of  ornaments;  the  American  Indian  was  ex- 
tremely fond  of  such  colours,  and  to-day  we  find 
thousands  of  men  who  delight  in  rich  colours. 

That  birds  are  fond  of  music,  no  one  doubts ;  the 
song  of  the  mocking-bird,  the  whistle  of  the  gold- 
finch, the  call  of  the  red-bird,  the  gentle  cooing  of 
the  dove,  the  noisy  chattering  of  the  sparrow,  the 
sad  cry  of  the  whippoorwill,  the  scream  of  the  hawk, 
the  hoot  of  the  owl,  the  reed-like  notes  of  the  black- 
bird, the  violin  roll  of  the  canary — all  are  convinc- 
ing, and  place  them  in  the  ranks  of  true  lovers  of 
the  esthetic. 

And  none  can  doubt  that  the  physical  appear- 
ance of  birds  entitles  them  to  be  ranked  high  in  the 
artistic  world.  Observe  the  matchless  grace  of  the 
swan,  the  heron,  and  the  sand-hill  crane;  the  ex- 
quisite plumes  of  the  ostrich  and  the  bird  of  para- 
dise ;  the  wonderful  colour  of  the  lory  and  the  sun- 
bird  ;  the  marvellous  coats,  crests,  and  lappets  of  the 
humming-bird,  red-bird,  blue-j  ay,  parrot,  and  finch ; 
or  the  unusual  song  of  the  nightingale — we  must 


14      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

admit  that  they  all  give  evidence  of  the  greatest 
artistic  appreciation  and  possession. 

As  Grant  Allen  truly  says  of  the  flower-hunting 
and  fruit-eating  species,  "Surrounded  for  genera- 
tions and  generations  by  gorgeous  orchids  and 
trumpet-creepers,  from  which  they  suck  the  stored- 
up  nectar ;  by  gleaming  purple  or  golden  fruits ;  by 
burnished  beetles,  metallic  butterflies,  bronze- 
scaled  lizards,  and  coral  snakes,  their  prey  or  their 
enemies,  exercising  their  eyes  perpetually  in  the 
search  for  food  among  the  exquisite  objects  of  their 
environment,  and  safe  from  all  foes  except  those 
of  their  own  class,  tropical  birds  have  naturally 
developed  the  most  gorgeous  and  the  most  perfect 
forms  and  colours  in  the  whole  animal  creation. 
And,  above  all,  they  have  stamped  the  mark  of  their 
peculiarly  high  esthetic  feelings  upon  their  own 
shapes  by  the  wonderful  definiteness  of  their  pat- 
terns and  their  ornamental  adjuncts,  nowhere 
equalled,  save  in  the  most  perfect  decorative  handi- 
craft of  man  himself." 

But  notwithstanding  their  beauty,  their  works  of 
art,  and  their  other  accomplishments,  man  has  seen 
in  them  only  the  helpless  victims  of  his  own  de- 
sires. With  all  the  scientific  knowledge  and  hu- 
mane pretensions  of  to-day,  we  wage  a  ruthless 


FEATHERED  ARTISTS  15 

war  upon  our  unresisting  fellow-mortals  of  the 
air. 

Unprincipled  hunters  kill  them  from  an  un- 
bridled madness  for  gain,  and  to  satisfy  the  insane 
vanity  of  worldly  women,  who  wish  to  make  up 
for  their  lack  of  charm  and  beauty  by  wearing  the 
plumage  of  these  delicate-winged  artists  of  the  air. 
For  those  who  are  so  unfeeling  as  to  eat  the  flesh  of 
song-birds,  like  the  red-bird,  the  bobolink,  the 
mocking-bird,  the  robin,  and  the  wild  wood-doves, 
there  is  nothing  to  be  said.  They  are  beyond 
reach!  They  nourish  the  body  at  the  expense  of 
the  soul! 

The  human  love  of  ornament  is  responsible  for 
the  death  and  destruction  of  more  beautiful  birds 
than  all  other  causes  combined.  Only  a  few  years 
ago  many  women  tried  to  make  up  for  their  natural 
homeliness  by  wearing  not  only  the  feathers  of  at- 
tractive birds,  but  the  dead  bodies  as  well!  Those 
heartless  women  who  continue  to  adorn  themselves 
with  feathers  and  birds  are  responsible  for  the  per- 
petuation of  the  most  unthinkable  barbarities.  The 
humane  Queen  Victoria  did  much  to  abolish  this 
heathenish  custom  in  England.  She  was  devoted 
to  all  nature's  creatures,  and  set  a  good  example 
by  refusing  to  wear  even  feathers. 

"Open  your  eyes  to  the  evidence,"  says  Michelet. 


16     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

"Throw  aside  your  prejudice,  your  traditional  and 
derived  opinions.  Dismiss  your  pride,  and  acknowl- 
edge a  kindred.  They  are  your  brothers." 

Even  a  half-correct  representation  of  a  bird's 
art  can  be  conveyed  to  the  uninitiated  only  by  a 
person  who  not  only  is  an  artist  himself,  but  who 
has  that  spiritual  understanding  and  love  for  all 
his  fellow-artists  of  the  air,  whatever  their  medium 
of  expression.  One  must  really  be  blind  and  deaf 
not  to  appreciate  the  many  and  varied  artistic  cre- 
ations of  birds. 

Every  part  of  the  globe  has  its  feathered  artists 
peculiar  to  itself,  and  every  one,  no  matter  how 
crude  his  efforts,  reaches  out  for  artistic  expres- 
sion, just  as  in  the  human  world  the  lowest  savage 
is  a  potential  artist.  The  North  has  its  snow  birds 
and  deep-sea  divers,  whose  strength  and  grace  are 
their  chief  charms ;  the  South  has  its  weavers,  stone- 
workers,  makers  of  fine  fabrics,  sewers,  dancers, 
acrobats,  singers,  tumblers,  decorators,  and  avia- 
tors; the  East  has  its  prophets,  professional  beau- 
ties, warriors,  and  kings;  while  the  West  has  its 
miners,  scavengers,  fishermen,  carpenters,  farmers, 
educators,  and  entertainers.  Wherever  we  look, 
we  must  recognise  the  seeking-after  and  the  reali- 
sation of  artistic  expression  from  the  lowest  to  the 
highest  of  all  birds. 


CHAPTER  II 

CLIFF-DWELLERS  AND  MOUND-BUILDERS 

They  also  know, 
And  reason  not  contemptibly. 

— Milton. 

IN  America  are  the  remains  of  one  of  the  great 
epochs  in  the  drama  of  history.  On  the  high 
plateaux  of  Mexico,  in  the  primeval  jungles  of 
Yucatan,  in  the  ancient  mounds  of  Peru,  in  the 
Western  hills  of  the  United  States,  we  find 
America's  Babylon,  Nineveh,  and  Thebes.  Among 
the  ruins  of  the  cliff-dwellers  is  a  fascinating  bur- 
ied history  which  stretches  back  to  the  beginnings 
of  man  himself. 

And  second  only  in  interest  to  these  human  cliff- 
dwellers  are  the  bird  cliff-dwellers,  little  beings  who 
to-day  have  a  mountain-side  civilisation  compara- 
ble to  that  of  our  semi-civilised  forbears. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  thing  to  us  about 
these  cave-dwellers,  cliff-dwellers,  and  burrowers  is 
that  human  beings  have  sought  in  such  dwellings 
security,  real  or  imagined.  The  burrowers  are  not, 

17 


18      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

as  one  might  imagine,  wingless  and  unable  to  place 
their  nests  in  trees  or  precipices ;  they  are  remark- 
able for  their  powers  of  flight,  and  might  choose 
any  place  they  desire  for  their  homes. 

Many  of  these  sand-dwellers  seem  quite  unfitted 
for  their  burrowing  into  the  earth.  The  beautiful 
capped  petrel  has  become  extinct  because  of  its 
burrowing  habits.  It  was  killed  in  its  only  breed- 
ing-place, the  islands  of  Guadaloupe  and  Dominica, 
mainly  because  of  the  exposed  position  of  its  nests, 
which  made  it  the  easy  prey  of  blood-thirsty  men 
and  animals.  Yet  strangely  enough  it  must  have 
believed  itself  safe  in  such  a  position. 

In  the  same  way  the  sand  martins  and  petrels 
are  to-day  exposing  themselves  to  the  mercy  of 
the  world  by  continuing  to  breed  in  exposed  places. 
It  is  not  uncommon  to  see  them  cluster  and  flutter 
against  the  sand-hills  like  a  swarm  of  butterflies 
trying  to  settle  over  a  single  flower  in  their  effort 
to  secure  the  best  site  for  their  abnormal  excava- 
tions. 

Perhaps  of  all  the  cave-dwellers  the  sand  mar- 
tin, the  smallest  of  the  swallows,  is  the  most  human 
in  his  methods  of  united  work.  Colonies  of  these 
little  feathered  people  combine  and  build  regular 
cities  by  burrowing  into  caves,  or  building  little 
mud-houses  one  upon  the  other  into  a  structure  not 


CKDAK  now ormr  BMLD  THEIR  HOMES  IN  TIERS  IN 


CLIFF-DWELLERS  19 

unlike  a  human  apartment  house.  Perfect  har- 
mony and  peace  seem  to  dwell  wherever  these 
birds  live.  If  occasionally  a  couple  have  a  little 
"family  quarrel,"  they  immediately  cease  when  a 
group  of  other  martins  have  assembled.  Each 
family  has  its  own  apartment,  and  lives  somewhat 
independently  of  its  neighbours,  yet  the  whole  city 
is  really  one  great  family. 

In  the  olden  times,  the  people  believed  that  the 
work  of  these  little  cave-dwellers  was  miraculous. 
Pliny  dignified  the  sand  martin  by  the  following 
tale:  "At  the  mouth  of  the  Xile,  near  Heraclea, 
in  Egypt,  the  swallows  build  nest  upon  nest,  until 
they  form  a  wall  so  strong  as  to  present  an  insur- 
mountable barrier  to  the  inundations  of  the  river; 
this  dam  is  nearly  a  stadium  in  length,  and  could 
scarcely  be  constructed  by  human  hands.  Near 
the  towrn  of  Koptos  there  is  an  island  sacred  to 
Isis,  which  these  swallows  have  fortified  in  a  simi- 
lar manner  to  preserve  themselves  from  the  flood. 
In  the  early  spring  they  strengthen  the  facade  with 
straw  and  chaff,  continuing  their  labours  night  and 
day  for  three  consecutive  days  with  such  assiduity 
that  many  expire  from  exhaustion.  This  work  has 
to  be  renewed  every  year." 

There  are  a  number  of  other  cave-dwellers  along 
the  banks  of  the  Nile.  These  are  marsh-birds  and 


20      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

bee-eaters,  and  their  cities  are  marvels  of  beauty 
and  careful  workmanship.  Each  bird  knows  his 
own  residence,  although  they  all  look  exactly  alike, 
and  in  a  surface  of  twenty  square  feet  there  are  no 
less  than  fifty  to  sixty  square  holes.  These  little 
workmen  constantly  fly  in  and  out  in  a  never-end- 
ing stream,  like  a  hive  of  bees.  Surely  no  city 
could  have  a  better  example  of  brotherly  kindness 
and  consideration  than  is  seen  in  these  bird  cities! 
Each  individual  seems  thoroughly  to  respect  the 
rights  of  his  neighbours,  and  happiness  reigns 
everywhere. 

Not  all  of  the  burrowing  birds  follow  the  usual 
ways,  however,  for  occasionally  one  may  see  them 
nesting  on  a  brick  wall,  or  on  high  rocks.  And 
sometimes,  even  the  sand  martins,  who  in  Pliny's 
time  seemed  to  delight  in  sand-digging  and  bur- 
rowing, will  return  to  their  almost-lost  art  of  build- 
ing mud-houses.  Nuthatches  often  build  houses 
by  burrowing  into  decayed  trees ;  and  the  Assyrian 
nuthatch  makes  a  mud-house  under  a  wall  with  an 
additional  mud  vestibule.  Thus  we  see  that  these 
ancient  nuthatches  are  in  reality  masons. 

A  most  interesting  belief  prevails  in  the  Outer 
Hebrides  relative  to  the  "hot  chamber"  where 
young  petrels  are  hatched.  The  inhabitants  claim 
that  the  birds  hatch  their  eggs  not  by  sitting  on 


CLIFF-DWELLERS  21 

them,  but  by  sitting  near  them,  at  a  distance  of  six 
inches,  between  them  and  the  opening  of  the  bur- 
row. The  petrels  turn  their  heads  toward  the 
eggs,  and  coo  at  them  day  and  night,  and  so  "hatch 
them  with  their  song."  This,  which  sounds  like  a 
fable  of  the  East  Atlantic  islands,  has  really  a  basis 
in  fact.  Mr.  Davenport  Graham  says  that  the  ac- 
count is  "very  correct;  though  I  never  heard  the 
cooing  noise  by  day,  I  often  did  in  the  evening.  It 
is  rather  a  purring  noise.  When  its  nest  is  opened 
up,  the  bird  is  usually  found  cowering  a  few  inches 
away  from  its  egg.  This  hot  and  stuffy  atmosphere 
may  aid  the  hatching  of  the  eggs;  but  there  is  no 
doubt  that  it  brings  into  being  other  and  very  unde- 
sirable forms  of  life." 

The  great  auk,  now  extinct,  laid  her  single  egg, 
about  the  size  of  that  of  a  swan,  in  a  deep  burrow. 
This  egg  was  so  peculiarly  streaked  that  it  looked  as 
if  it  were  covered  with  strange  Chinese  characters 
— of  a  whitish  yellow,  marked  with  black  dots  and 
manifold  small  lines.  If  for  any  reason  this  egg 
chanced  to  be  stolen,  the  bird  would  lay  no  more 
during  the  season.  Perhaps  this  partially  accounts 
for  the  quick  extinction  of  this  rare  bird. 

The  strangest  of  all  the  ground-dwellers  is  the 
owl-parrot  (kakapo)  of  New  Zealand.  This  curi- 
ous bird  combines  all  the  special  characteristics  of 


22     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

the  owl  with  those  of  the  parrot.  The  plumage 
has  that  rich  green  which  predominates  in  the  par- 
rot family,  with  the  dark-brown  markings  and 
transverse  bars,  trimmed  in  pale  yellow  so  common 
to  most  all  owls.  This  bird  might  have  been  treated 
under  the  chapter  on  mimics  as  its  colourings  cor- 
respond exactly  with  its  surroundings.  Mr.  Wood 
says:  "I  could  not  help  being  struck  by  the  circum- 
stance which,  no  doubt,  is  observable  when  the  bird 
is  in  its  native  haunts,  that  its  colours  are  absolutely 
the  same  as  those  which  immediately  surround  the 
bird;  the  green  colour  being  that  of  the  grass,  the 
yellow  dashes  the  same  as  the  oats  and  other  green 
on  which  the  bird  feeds,  and  the  blackish-brown 
bars  imitating  the  soft  mould  of  the  earth." 

The  kakapo  is  nocturnal  in  habits.  During  the 
day  it  sleeps  in  caves  in  the  ground,  or  very  rarely 
in  trees  in  a  dark  forest.  If  disturbed,  it  will  hide 
in  caves  or  under  rocks  and  grass;  but  at  night  it 
comes  out  and  is  very  lively  as  it  feeds  on  grass, 
vegetables,  seeds  and  roots.  If  pleased  with  its 
food,  it  continually  grunts,  like  a  pig.  Its  nests 
are  very  difficult  to  find,  as  they  are  located  in  deep 
caves,  or  under  rocks.  The  kakapo  is  probably  ex- 
tinct by  this  time  as  the  wild  dogs  of  New  Zealand 
delight  in  hunting  and  destroying  it. 

Many  ground-builders  seek  burrows  already  pre- 


CLIFF-DWELLERS  23 

pared  for  them.  The  prairie  owls  are  famed  for 
their  system  of  chummage.  In  this  case,  it  seems 
that  the  birds  are  always  the  guests  of  the  animals. 
Although  the  owls  are  expert  miners  and  engineers 
quite  capable  of  planning  and  digging  their  own 
homes,  like  many  people,  they  prefer  ready-made 
ones.  Sometimes  one  finds  prairie  owls,  rattle- 
snakes, and  prairie  dogs  all  living  amicably  together 
in  the  same  cave.  And  there  are  numerous  families 
of  otters,  sheldrakes,  and  stormy  petrels  living  on 
the  best  of  terms  in  their  little  underground  apart- 
ment homes. 

These  miniature  houses  are  wonderfully  arranged 
according  to  the  most  approved  homes  of  man.  The 
main  gallery  is  occupied  by  the  otter  and  the  shel- 
drakes, while  the  petrels  live  in  tiny  side  rooms,  not 
much  larger  than  a  mouse's  home.  From  the 
otter's  sleeping  room  is  a  small  canal  for  carrying 
off  water,  and  a  rubbish-hole  under  the  entrance. 
To  the  right  of  the  entrance  is  a  small  excavation 
for  the  storage  of  fish-bones  and  other  garbage. 

The  prairie  owls  are  perhaps  the  most  daring  of 
all  the  cave-dwellers  in  their  friendships.  This  is 
due  to  many  causes.  Community  of  interests 
makes  them  gregarious  to  an  extraordinary  degree, 
while  the  conditions  of  life  in  desert  regions  make 
them  cast  their  lives  with  the  prairie  dogs,  wolves, 


24     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

foxes,  and  even  badgers.  No  one  doubts  that  owls 
live  at  ease  with  these  animals,  but  that  they  have 
any  intimate  family  relations  is  to  be  questioned. 
The  owls  are  fewest  in  the  more  densely  populated 
prairie  dog  cities  and  most  numerous  in  the 
sparsely  settled  towns.  This  is  interesting,  as  it 
serves  to  prove  that  the  owls  have  taken  up  their 
lodging  because  of  convenience,  and  not  for  com- 
panionship. 

A  most  remarkable  partnership  is  that  between 
the  chickaree  squirrel  and  the  saw-whet  owl.  This 
companionship  was  once  thought  to  be  accidental. 
Some  naturalists  claimed  that  the  squirrel  was 
merely  seeking  a  hole  to  escape  danger  that  was 
impending.  But  this  is  not  true;  for  they  live  to- 
gether in  perfect  harmony.  Although  the  squirrel 
is  a  very  pugnacious  creature,  and  sometimes  bent 
upon  blood,  he  lives  amicably  with  the  owl.  When 
or  where  their  friendship  began,  no  one  knows.  It 
is  truly  remarkable  that  two  creatures  so  widely 
different  in  habits  should  be  parties  to  such  a  per- 
manent and  closely  cemented  friendship. 

The  guillemont  is  a  strange  cave-dweller.  She 
often  wanders  far  inland  to  lay  her  eggs,  gener- 
ally in  company  with  others  of  her  tribe,  and  seeks 
a  cave  or  burrow  facing  the  cliffs.  The  eggs  of  the 
guillemont  are  distinguished  among  those  of  Brit- 


CLIFF-DWELLERS  25 

ish  birds  by  the  fact  that  they  are  more  varied  in 
colour  than  those  of  any  other  species.  They  range 
from  light  pink  to  pale  green.  The  female  bird 
lays  but  one  egg  at  a  time,  and,  like  the  mother 
of  an  only  child,  she  bestows  great  attention  upon 
it.  Unlike  all  other  birds  she  refuses  to  trust  this 
precious  and  only  treasure  in  a  nest,  but  holds  it 
between  her  legs  as  she  sits  in  her  chosen  burrow. 
These  birds  are  fast  becoming  rare. 

At  Starved  Rock,  Illinois,  a  few  years  ago,  there 
was  a  most  remarkable  sight.  A  number  of  scien- 
tists, Dr.  Jesse  M.  Greenman,  Mr.  O.  E.  Lansing, 
and  myself  were  collecting  plants  for  Field's  Mu- 
seum of  Natural  History,  when  we  came  to  this 
wonderful  place.  An  immense  rock,  covered  with 
mavellous  pine  trees,  rose-bushes,  and  vines,  nearly 
a  hundred  feet  high,  stood  by  the  side  of  the  river. 
Swallows  were  flying  in  and  out  of  the  sides  of  the 
rock  like  bees  out  of  a  hive ;  for  the  rock  was  liter- 
ally covered  with  mud  nests  glued  to  the  steep 
walls.  It  was  a  city  indeed  of  cave-dwellers  out  of 
the  reach  of  man! 

The  strangest  and  most  human-like  habits  of 
cliff-dwellers,  especially  the  swallows,  is  the  burial 
of  their  dead.  If  a  swallow  dies  in  its  cave,  the 
other  bird  inhabitants  wall  up  the  nest,  thus  chang- 
ing it  into  a  hermetically  sealed  sepulchre.  Only 


after  the  dead  swallow  is  thus  buried  will  the 
other  members  of  his  family  continue  to  construct 
their  nests  in  adjoining  caves.  If  this  is  not  intelli- 
gence, what  shall  we  call  it? 

The  flamingo  is  a  peculiar  mound-builder  with 
bright  scarlet  plumage,  a  very  large  neck  and  legs, 
and  a  bill  so  bent  in  the  middle  that  it  appears  to 
be  deformed.  The  flamingo  belongs  to  an  ancient 
family  of  birds  whose  living  members  number  only 
one-third  as  many  varieties  as  were  known  among 
the  fossil  forms.  Dampier,  in  1683,  gave  a  strange 
account  of  these  mound-builders: 

"The  flamingoes  build  their  nests  in  shallow 
ponds,  where  there  is  much  mud,  which  they  scrape 
together,  making  little  hillocks,  like  small  islands, 
appearing  out  of  the  water,  a  foot  and  a  half  high 
from  the  bottom.  They  make  the  foundation  of 
these  hillocks  broad,  bringing  them  up  tapering  to 
the  top,  where  they  leave  a  small  hollow  pit  to  lay 
their  eggs  in;  and  when  they  either  lay  their  eggs, 
or  hatch  them,  they 'stand  all  the  while,  not  on  the 
hillock,  but  closely  by  it  with  their  long  legs  on  the 
ground  and  in  the  water,  resting  themselves  against 
the  hillock,  and  covering  the  hollow  nest  upon  it 
with  their  rumps.  For  their  legs  are  very  long, 
and  building  thus,  as  they  do,  upon  the  ground  they 
could  neither  draw  their  legs  conveniently  into  the 


CLIFF-DWELLERS  27 

nests,  nor  sit  down  upon  them  otherwise  than  by 
resting  their  whole  bodies  there,  to  the  prejudice 
of  their  eggs  or  their  young,  were  it  not  for  this 
admirable  contrivance,  which  they  have  by  natural 
instinct.  The  young  ones  cannot  fly  until  they  are 
almost  full-grown;  but  will  run  prodigiously  fast." 

This  account  of  the  method  of  incubation  is  very 
incorrect.  The  truth  is  that  the  old  birds  sit  upon 
their  island-like  nests,  just  as  other  birds  do — with- 
out injury  to  the  eggs  or  to  the  young.  These 
cup-shaped  nests  are  sufficiently  deep  for  all  neces- 
sary protection.  From  this  elevated  position  the 
flamingoes  can  fish  while  sitting  on  their  eggs. 
Great  numbers  of  these  birds  live  in  Florida  and 
in  the  Philippine  Islands,  where  they  often  congre- 
gate by  the  thousands  into  colonies. 

Not  the  least  interesting  and  surely  the  most 
paradoxical  of  all  cave-dwellers  is  the  bat.  These 
strange  "children  of  Erebus"  have  something  obso- 
lete in  their  general  make-up.  In  the  Davonian 
monster-period,  skin  wings  were  quite  the  fashion, 
but  to-day  they  have  gone  out  of  vogue.  It  is  a 
curious  fact  that  all  winged  mammals  are  now  noc- 
turnal in  their  habits,  as  if  they  feared  competition 
with  their  day-light  contemporaries.  Most  of  the 
skin-winged  creatures,  like  the  winged  lemur,  the 
flying  fox,  and  the  flying  squirrel,  dread  sunlight 


28     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

as  witch-doctors  dread  the  light  of  investigation; 
and  the  same  is  true  of  hats.  Though  most  moon- 
shine creatures  have  exaggerated  eyes,  those  of  the 
bat  are  almost  as  rudimentary  as  are  those  of  a 
mole,  or  of  the  weird  fishes  that  were  ejected  from 
the  subterranean  tarns  of  Mount  Cotopaxi. 

It  is  for  purposes  of  self-defence,  shelter  and 
rest  that  bats  seek  caves.  At  times  they  seem  per- 
fectly contented  to  sleep  in  the  same  cave  with 
rattlesnakes.  There  are  a  number  of  such  caves  in 
the  Philippine  Islands  where  thousands  of  bats 
dwell  in  dark  caves  with  huge  rattlesnakes,  and  in 
the  twilight  all  of  them  pour  out  at  the  same  mo- 
ment, a  living  flood  of  staggering  night-wanderers. 
Aristotle  classed  bats  with  birds,  and  in  many  re- 
spects they  are  the  creatures  par  excellence  of  the 
air.  "With  the  sole  exception  of  the  Javanese 
roussette,  bats  are  completely  at  sea  in  the  water, 
and  almost  helpless  on  terra  firma ;  they  eat,  drink, 
and  court  their  mates  on  the  wing,  and  the  Nycteris 
thebaica  even  carries  her  young  on  her  nightly  ex- 
cursions. Nay,  bats  may  even  be  said  to  sleep  in 
the  air,  for  they  build  neither  day  nests  nor  winter 
quarters,  but  hang  by  the  thumbnail,  touching  their 
support  only  with  the  point  of  a  sharp  hook.  But 
this  hand-hook  connects  with  muscles  of  amazing 
tenacity. 


CLIFF-DWELLERS  29 

"In  cold  climates,  where  bats  have  to  club  to- 
gether for  mutual  warmth,  fifty  or  sixty  of  them 
have  been  found  in  one  bundle,  representing  an 
aggregate  weight  of  about  fifteen  pounds,  all  sup- 
ported by  one  thumbnail !  The  head-centre,  or  the 
one  that  supports  the  weight  of  the  group,  must 
sleep  as  warm  as  a  child  in  a  feather-bed;  but  it  is 
hard  to  understand  how  the  outsiders  can  survive 
the  cold  season,  for,  in  spite  of  their  voracity,  bats 
accumulate  no  fat,  and  the  flying  membrane  is  a 
poor  protection  against  a  North  American  winter. 
The  only  explanation  is  that  their  winter  torpor  is  a 
trance,  a  protracted  catalepsy,  rather  than  a  sleep ; 
hibernating  bears  and  dormice  get  wide  awake  at 
a  minute's  notice,  but  I  have  handled  bats  that 
might  have  been  skinned  without  betraying  a  sign 
of  life,  and  needed  more  than  the  warmth  of  my 
hands  to  revive  them,  for  their  wings  were  quite 
brittle  with  rigid  frost.  Bats  prefer  a  cave  with 
tortuous  ramifications  that  shelter  them  against 
draughts,  but  still  with  a  wide  though  not  too  visi- 
ble opening,  as  they  do  not  like  to  squeeze  them- 
selves through  narrow  clefts.  A  dormitory  com- 
bining these  requisites  is  sure  to  attract  lodgers 
from  far  and  near.  .  .  .  The  Mammoth  Cave,  with 
its  countless  grottoes,  has  only  two  bat-holes,  whose 


occupants  have  never  been  known  to  change  their 
quarters." 

The  only  American  bird  known  to  choose  a  per- 
manently damp  cave  or  ledge  of  wet  rocks  for  its 
home  is  the  water  ouzel,  or  American  dipper.  This 
bird  is  so  eccentric  that  it  prefers  its  nest  under  a 
continuous  shower,  and  spends  most  of  its  time  in, 
not  on  top  of,  the  water.  Perhaps  the  very  shower 
of  water  through  which  he  must  pass  to  enter  his 
home  serves  to  protect  his  young  from  preying  ani- 
mals and  birds.  The  ouzel  babies  are  reared  by 
the  lullaby  of  the  spraying  waters.  How  fascinat- 
ing these  water  babies  look  when  they  first  go  forth 
into  the  world!  They  are  neatly  attired  in  slate- 
coloured  feathers,  with  white  feet  and  white  edg- 
ings to  some  of  the  feathers,  and  a  bunny-like  tail  to 
match. 

Not  the  least  attractive  among  these  rock  dwel- 
lers is  the  sprightly  little  canon  wren.  One  must 
have  good  eyesight  and  exercise  much  patience  to 
see  these  tiny  creatures.  At  a  distance  they  look 
like  flies  running  on  a  wall.  In  and  out  among  the 
rocks  flits  the  miniature  cave-dweller,  gathering  a 
bit  of  moss  here  and  there  for  her  cave-mansion, 
entirely  unconcerned  about  the  hundred  feet  of 
cliffs  stretching  below  her  and  the  foaming  stream 
at  their  foot.  Occasionally  she  zigzags  her  way  to 


The  penguins  are  social  birds  who  live  together  in  colonies  near  the  sea,  making 
of  the  cliffs  a  city  of  penguin  apartment  houses 


CLIFF-DWELLERS  31 

the  top  of  the  cliff,  showing  absolute  familiarity 
with  her  mountain  home. 

The  most  beautiful  and  far  the  most  diminutive 
of  all  the  cliff-dwellers  are  certain  varieties  of 
humming-birds.  They  appear  most  abundant  in 
the  mountainous  regions  of  South  America,  espe- 
cially in  the  high  Andes,  where  there  are  hundreds 
of  different  species.  Here,  if  one  is  especially 
lucky,  he  may  occasionally  find  a  nest  attached  to 
the  side  of  a  high  cliff,  or  overhanging  rock.  The 
nests  are  marvels  of  beauty  and  wonder.  They  are 
usually  cup-shaped,  and  formed  of  plant  down 
woven  together  by  silver  spider's  webs.  The  out- 
side of  the  nests  is  covered  with  lichens,  mosses, 
and  sometimes  with  dried  flowers  or  feathers. 

Oven-birds  are  the  aristocrats  among  the  cliff- 
dwellers,  and  are  not  satisfied  with  one  chamber, 
but  build  two  in  the  clay  not  unlike  ovens — hence 
the  name.  These  are  common  sights  in  South 
America.  Like  their  friends,  the  swallows,  they 
sometimes  convert  a  nest  into  a  sepulchre  by  clos- 
ing up  the  entrance  when  a  bird  has  died.  It  some- 
times happens  that  an  underground  city,  in  case  of 
an  epidemic  among  the  inhabitants,  becomes  a 
cemetery! 

A  cousin  of  the  oven-bird,  which  closely  resem- 
bles this  interesting  home-maker  in  the  reddish  tint 


32      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

of  its  feathers,  is  the  casarita,  which  means  "little 
house-builder."  The  nest  of  the  casarita  is  usually 
found  at  the  bottom  of  a  cylindrical  tube  which  ex- 
tends from  five  to  six  feet  underground.  This  bird 
is  common  in  the  La  Plata  region  of  South  Amer- 
ica, and  boys  who  attempt  to  dig  out  the  nests  are 
rarely  ever  successful,  owing  to  the  length  of  the 
tube.  An  unusual  thing  about  this  otherwise  in- 
telligent little  creature  is  its  absolute  incapacity 
for  acquiring  any  ideas  of  thickness.  It  will  con- 
tinually attempt  to  bore  nests  in  thin  walls,  with 
apparent  surprise  when  daylight  is  reached  on  the 
opposite  side! 

The  custom  of  building  mounds  for  nesting- 
places  has  been  extensively  adopted  by  many  spe- 
cies of  birds  in  Australia  and  elsewhere.  The 
mallee-bird  makes  a  mound  or  nest  in  the  most  pe- 
culiar way  by  bringing  together  gravel  and  vegeta- 
ble matter.  These  are  mixed  almost  in  the  same 
manner  as  a  brick-maker  mixes  his  mud  and  straw ; 
and  as  the  vegetable  matter  decays  a  sufficient 
amount  of  heat  is  produced  to  hatch  the  eggs. 

Dr.  Grey  informs  us  that  the  malice's  nest  oc- 
casionally measures  thirteen  yards  about  the  base 
and  is  about  twro  feet  in  height.  In  a  letter  in  1842 
he  wrote:  "The  mound  appears  to  be  constructed 
as  follows:  A  nearly  circular  hole,  about  eighteen 


CLIFF-DWELLERS  33 

inches  in  diameter,  is  scratched  in  the  ground  to  a 
depth  of  seven  or  eight  inches,  and  filled  with  dead 
leaves,  dead  grass,  and  similar  materials,  and  a 
large  mass  of  the  same  substance  is  placed  all 
around  it  upon  the  ground.  Over  this  first  layer 
a  large  mound  of  sand,  mixed  with  dry  grass,  etc., 
is  thrown,  and  finally  the  whole  assumes  the  form 
of  a  dome.  .  .  .  When  an  egg  is  to  be  deposited, 
the  top  is  laid  open  and  a  hole  scraped  in  its  cen- 
tre to  within  two  or  three  inches  of  the  bottom  layer 
of  leaves.  The  egg  is  placed  in  the  sand  just  at 
or  near  the  edge,  in  a  vertical  position,  with  the 
smaller  end  downwards.  The  sand  is  then  thrown 
in  again,  and  the  mound  left  in  its  original  form. 
The  egg  which  has  been  thus  deposited  is  there- 
fore completely  surrounded  and  enveloped  in  soft 
sand,  having  from  four  to  six  inches  of  sand  be- 
tween the  lower  end  of  the  egg  and  the  layer  of 
dead  leaves.  When  a  second  egg  is  laid,  it  is  de- 
posited precisely  in  the  same  plane  as  the  first,  but 
at  the  opposite  side  of  the  hole  before  alluded  to. 
A  third  egg  is  placed  in  the  same  plane  as  the 
others,  but,  as  it  were,  at  the  third  corner  of  the 
square  0  .  .  the  fourth  in  the  fourth  .  .  .  the  fig- 

o 
ure  being  of  this  form — o     o ;  the  next  four  eggs 

o 


34     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

in  succession  are  placed  in  the  interstices,  but  al- 
ways in  the  same  plane,  so  at  last  there  is  a  circle 
of  eight  eggs,  all  standing  upright  in  the  sand,  with 
several  inches  of  sand  intervening  between  each. 
The  male  bird  assists  the  female  in  opening  and 
covering  up  the  mound,  and  provided  the  birds  are 
not  themselves  disturbed,  the  female  continues  to 
lay  in  the  same  mound,  even  after  it  has  been  sev- 
eral times  robbed.  The  natives  say  that  the  hen 
bird  lays  an  egg  every  day." 

The  eggs  are  hatched  by  the  heat  engendered  by 
the  decaying  vegetation,  and  the  young  birds,  un- 
aided, push  their  way  slowly  to  the  outer  world. 
The  parent  bird  forages  in  the  neighbourhood, 
awaiting  the  brood,  and  soon  finds  them  and  be- 
gins their  rearing.  Thus  the  mound  is  not  used 
as  a  nesting-place  in  the  strict  sense  as  with  other 
less  educated  birds,  but  as  an  incubator;  and  the 
mother  bird  escapes  the  long  monotonous  task  of 
hatching  the  eggs  by  the  heat  of  her  body. 

Other  birds  build  even  bigger  mounds  than  the 
mallee;  some  of  these  have  been  known  to  measure 
fifteen  feet  in  height  and  sixty  feet  in  circumfer- 
ence. The  jungle  fowl  builds  a  mound  of  varying 
proportions,  never  less  than  five  feet  in  height. 
Generally  these  mounds  are  placed  over  or  near  ant- 


CLIFF-DWELLERS  35 

hills  so  that  the  young  may  find  food  in  their 
journey  to  the  light  of  day. 

The  skill  shown  by  these  birds  in  the  construc- 
tion of  incubators  for  their  eggs  is  most  remark- 
able when  we  consider  that  in  the  different  parts 
of  the  country  where  they  range,  the  materials  at 
hand  vary  widely  in  kind  and  quality.  Yet  they 
are  uniformly  successful.  They  are  engineers  of 
great  ability  and  ingenuity,  and  seem  to  know  just 
how  and  in  what  quantities  to  mix  whatever  ma- 
terials the  region  affords.  That  they  understand 
in  some  measure  the  natural  principles  which  they 
employ  is  shown  by  the  intelligent  care  they  take  in 
the  choice  of  vegetation  and  in  the  scrupulous  re- 
moval of  all  decayed  matter  of  the  previous  year. 

Some  mound-building  birds  band  together  to  ac- 
complish their  work,  and  the  fairness  and  good- 
fellowship  they  show  would  put  human  labourers 
to  shame.  They  all  join  heartily  in  the  task,  and 
the  result  proves  the  wisdom  of  co-operation.  In- 
deed these  birds  have  solved  many  of  the  most  seri- 
ous and  complicated  problems  of  their  existence  in 
a  way  that  would  do  credit  to  human  beings,  and 
their  methods  are  not  unlike  those  of  man  in  the 
early  stages  of  development. 


CHAPTER  III 

POLICEMEN   OF  THE  AIR 

Sometimes  the  linnet  piped  his  song: 
Sometimes  the  throstle  whistled  strong: 
Sometimes  the  sparrorvhawk,  rvheel'd  along, 
Hush'd  all  the  groves  from  fear  of  wrong. 

— Tennyson. 

XT O WHERE  in  the  entire  range  of  life  is 
-L^l  there  a  greater  wealth  of  romance  than  in 
the  police  systems  of  the  bird  world.  And  the 
companionship  of  those  people  whose  lives  are 
spent  among  the  whirl  of  city  streets,  I  especially 
desire,  that  they  may  accompany  me  to  the  moun- 
tain-side, across  treeless  prairies,  among  the  hedge 
rows,  across  the  grain  fields,  through  the  deep  for- 
ests, and  lastly  to  the  high  cliffs,  that  we  may  to- 
gether be  students  of  nature,  and  learn  that  "the 
world  is  perfect  everywhere,  when  still  unblemished 
by  man's  ruthless  hand." 

Up  to  the  present  time  in  man's  civilisation  it 
has  been  necessary  for  him  to  have  a  police  power 
of  some  kind  in  all  territory  where  he  expects  to 
remain  in  safety.  The  same  is  true  in  the  bird 

36 


POLICEMEN  OF  THE  AIR         37 

world  where  the  earth,  the  air,  and  the  water  all 
have  their  special  guardians.  Though  we  seldom 
realise  it,  these  police  systems  are  invaluable  to 
mankind.  The  woodpeckers,  famed  for  their  chisel- 
like  beaks,  are  able  to  dig  into  the  bark  and  wood 
of  trees  and  perform  untold  service  for  man  by  de- 
stroying the  hidden  larvae  that  kill  the  forest  trees. 

The  eagle  gives  us  a  splendid  example  of 
strength  and  nobility  among  policemen  of  the  air. 
This  noble  bird  is  by  nature  and  character  sym- 
bolical of  power.  The  old  legends  place  him  by 
the  throne  of  Jupiter,  "holding  in  his  talons  the 
thunderbolts  which  the  Deity  was  supposed  to  rain 
down  upon  this  hapless  earth  of  ours:  the  allegory 
is  apt,  for  the  eagle,  himself  a  mighty  king,  dashes 
upon  his  prey,  like  a  flash  of  lightning,  with  resist- 
less power."  He  is  indeed  the  terror  of  the  air: 
his  proudly  erect  body,  the  ruffled  lance-like  feather- 
ing of  the  head,  the  piercing  eyes,  the  scissor-like 
beak,  and  the  stiff,  pendant  tail  serve  to  impress 
us  with  his  power  and  nobility.  He  is  ruler  of  the 
day!  And  king  of  the  air! 

There  are  many  varieties  of  eagles,  and  one  of 
the  most  powerful,  the  bateleur  eagle  of  Africa,  is 
called  by  the  natives  the  "Ape  of  Heaven."  Its 
flight  can  be  at  once  distinguished  from  that  of 
any  other  bird.  At  one  instant  it  darts  off  like  a 


38     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

wild  deer,  momentarily  hangs  suspended  at  a  giddy 
height  in  the  heavens,  without  the  motion  of  a 
feather,  then  shoots  rapidly  upward  like  a  sky- 
rocket, till  out  of  sight,  returning  to  earth  like  a 
leaden  ball,  amid  a  complicated  acrobatic  perform- 
ance, like  a  tumbler  pigeon.  Mankind  may  well 
cast  envious  glances  at  this  marvel  of  the  air.  No 
wonder  Nature's  untutored  children  in  the  "Land 
of  Ham"  have  called  him  the  courier  of  the  gods! 
There  he  has  a  permanent  place  in  their  rhymed 
songs  and  sayings. 

The  Egyptian  vulture  is  a  common  sight  in  the 
villages  and  towns  of  Upper  Egypt  and  Nubia. 
He  seems  to  have  no  fear,  as  he  patrols  his  beat, 
and  he  is  rarely  disturbed  by  the  natives.  He  will 
perch  on  low  trees  within  a  city  and  sometimes 
alight  on  the  streets  to  get  a  bone.  If  other  birds 
disturb  him  or  come  into  his  regular  territory,  he 
soon  drives  them  away.  Although  he  is  friendly 
with  the  kingfishers  of  the  Nile,  and  is  sometimes 
found  in  company  with  the  much-respected  hooded 
crows,  he  is  the  deadliest  enemy  of  all  other  mem- 
bers of  the  feathered  tribe. 

So  completely  is  his  authority  established  that  he 
actually  breeds  in  small  trees  in  the  towns,  with- 
out fear  of  being  disturbed.  Birds  know  that  they 
can  implicitly  trust  the  Arabs ;  for  these  people  have 


POLICEMEN  OF  THE  AIR         39 

sentiments  so  noble  and  deeply  founded  that  even 
the  wise  eagles  trust  them;  the  turtle  doves  alight 
on  their  hands ;  the  night  herons  roost  in  low  trees 
in  the  heart  of  the  towns;  the  thick-kneed  plover 
plays  on  the  house-tops;  the  stilt  wades  in  the  vil- 
lage ponds;  while  the  magnificent  buff-heron  fol- 
lows the  milk-cows  home.  In  fact  Cairo  was 
founded  because  of  hospitality  extended  to  birds. 
The  Caliph's  general,  Abd-Allah-Omahr,  once  re- 
fused to  allow  his  tent  to  be  struck  because  a  turtle 
dove  had  built  its  nest  upon  it,  and  the  young  doves 
were  still  unfledged  when  the  General  desired  to 
march. 

The  golden  eagle  is  a  veteran  policeman.  His 
sturdy  build,  his  powerful  weapons,  marvellous 
eyes,  air-ship  wings,  and  his  home  among  the  clouds 
make  him  indeed  the  lion  of  the  bird-kingdom !  He 
is  the  king  of  the  air,  although  he  is  by  no  means 
the  largest  among  the  eagle  family,  as  several  kinds 
of  sea  eagles  are  a  size  larger.  The  golden  eagle  is 
at  home  in  all  parts  of  America,  throughout  Eu- 
rope, and  in  Asia.  He  is  strictly  a  lover  of  the 
mountains,  and  is  found  among  the  highest  passes 
and  cliffs.  In  Switzerland  he  is  found  only  in  the 
Alps.  In  speaking  of  this  mountain  king,  Tenny- 
son says: 


40     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

"He  clasps  the  craig  with  hooked  hands; 
Close  to  the  sun  in  lonely  lands, 
Ring'd  with  the  azure  world,  he  stands. 
The  wrinkled  sea  beneath  him  crawls; 
He  watches  from  his  mountain  walls, 
And  like  a  thunderbolt  he  falls." 

From  his  mountain  beat  he  surveys  the  surround- 
ing country  far  and  wide.  As  the  Bible  says,  "he 
sees  afar  off" — nothing  escapes  his  eye.  At  certain 
intervals  he  sweeps  noiselessly  along  as  his  glances 
search  the  distant  hills  and  valleys  below  for  prey. 
Suddenly,  when  he  sees  an  animal  below,  he  closes 
his  immense  wings  and  descends  to  the  earth  with 
a  terrific  thunder-like  sound,  his  huge  talons  open 
ready  to  grasp  the  hapless  creature.  Nothing  is 
safe  from  his  terrible  claws.  Nothing  is  too  large 
or  too  small  for  him.  His  eerie  on  the  high  cliffs 
tells  its  own  tale  of  murder:  around  it  is  a  veritable 
boneyard  which  has  accumulated  during  the  young 
eaglets'  nursery  days. 

The  golden  eagle  is  a  very  undesirable  officer 
in  the  vicinity  where  he  is  king.  The  enormous 
amount  of  food  his  young  consume,  not  to  mention 
himself,  makes  him  a  great  enemy  to  all  forms  of 
life.  His  eerie  is  very  rarely  accessible  to  man,  as 
it  is  usually  placed  at  the  highest  point  of  a  cliff, 
or  in  the  crown  of  a  very  tall  tree,  and  oftentimes 


: 


''i3fc%*rXk*. 
:  vll^l^ 
^-'-    ^^^^   ^| 

i,         jfr>.  ^^vSift^NX^;  ->^6 


'-'^^Sift^V^' ' 

•a^lKrV^  1^5 

'mm"  - 


Mi 


POLICEMEN  OF  THE  AIR          41 

at  the  head  of  a  river.  The  nest  is  unbeautiful, 
yet  so  large  and  strongly  built  that  a  man  could 
lie  down  with  safety  in  it.  The  lower  layer  is  built 
of  large  sticks,  often  brought  from  a  great  distance, 
and  then  covered  with  small  twigs,  while  the  bed  is 
formed  of  soft  grasses,  wool,  goat's  hair,  feathers, 
cotton,  and  various  fluffy  silks  and  threads  from 
plants.  It  is  interesting  to  watch  a  happy  couple 
of  eagles  in  March  gathering  the  materials  for  their 
nest.  They  whirl  and  soar  in  the  clouds,  rising 
higher  and  higher,  as  though  they  were  giving  avia- 
tion demonstrations.  Even  after  his  mate  is  set- 
ting, the  male  continues  to  give  these  soaring  ex- 
hibitions. There  are  usually  two  eggs  in  a  nest. 
They  are  large,  round,  bluish  white,  speckled  with 
reddish-brown. 

When  the  young  have  hatched,  the  nest  is  more 
like  a  butcher's  shop  than  anything  else.  Every- 
thing from  lamb-chops  to  young  squab  is  served  to 
these  ravenous  downy  eaglets. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  eagles,  and  their 
ways  and  methods  of  hunting  are  as  numerous  as 
they  are  diverse.  Even  Solomon  admitted  that  he 
could  not  understand  the  "ways  of  an  eagle."  The 
male  and  female  often  hunt  together,  flying  a  short 
distance  apart.  They  scour  over  mountain  range 


42     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

after  mountain  range,  with  apparently  no  thought 
of  the  valley  far  below. 

This  glorious  bird  is  king  of  the  mountains,  the 
true  lord  of  the  high  places  of  the  world.  He  lives 
in  a  region  of  pure  air  and  blinding  sunlight,  and 
evidently  looks  upon  men  as  helpless  crawling 
things  fit  only  to  live  in  valleys.  Round  his  earliest 
cradle  bright  snowflakes  glisten  like  diamonds  in 
the  sunbeams  which,  early  and  late,  colour  the  sur- 
rounding hills  with  rich  blues  and  purples.  He 
makes  his  home  between  rugged  crags,  with  the 
shiny  glacier  as  his  private  skating  pond.  He  is  an 
integrant  part  of  the  cliffs  and  precipices — a  com- 
plement of  the  eternal  snows.  Wherever  the  hand 
of  God  had  heaped  together  mighty  masses  of  rocks 
and  piled  them  toward  the  skies,  wherever  the  snow 
spreads  its  white  mantle  and  sends  icy  streamlets 
trickling  toward  the  valleys,  there  will  this  police- 
man of  the  skies  be  found.  He  claims  every  moun- 
tain as  his  natural  birthright. 

One  of  the  most  terrible  and  vindictive  of  the 
bird  warriors  is  the  kea  parrot  of  New  Zealand. 
This  bird,  formerly  a  patrolman  of  nature  in  keep- 
ing down  insects,  has  become  a  veritable  despot. 
Living  among  the  foothills  and  mountain  peaks, 
it  used  to  descend  to  the  lowlands  in  winter,  to 
obtain  food.  But  the  introduction  of  the  sheep- 


POLICEMEN  OF  THE  AIR          43 

raising  industry  made  it  possible  for  it  to  eke  out 
an  existence  on  the  scraps  of  offal. 

Later  these  blood-thirsty  parrots  became  so  bold 
as  to  attack  and  kill  sheep.  The  manner  in  which 
they  do  this  is  revolting  in  the  extreme,  and  for 
many  years  scientists  in  other  parts  of  the  world 
refused  to  believe  the  wild  tales  of  their  terrible 
crimes.  They  hunt  in  great  numbers,  like  hungry 
wolves,  and  pounce  upon  any  luckless  sheep  that 
strays  from  the  herdsman's  care.  Lighting  upon 
its  back,  they  quickly  tear  away  wool,  hide,  and 
flesh  in  search  of  the  tender  part  about  the  kidneys. 
This  they  despatch  with  gluttonous  haste  as  the 
poor  animal  falls  and  dies.  Then  they  leave  the 
carcass  untouched  to  seek  another  victim  and  again 
regale  themselves  upon  its  living  vitals. 

No  bird  of  prey  by  nature  carnivorous  is  so 
deadly  and  so  wasteful  as  these  degenerate  grain- 
eaters.  At  times  they  seem  to  seek  some  new  and 
terrible  mode  of  destroying  the  sheep ;  for  instance, 
some  of  them  live  during  certain  seasons  entirely 
upon  the  tongues  and  eyes  of  young  lambs,  which 
they  ruthlessly  pluck  out  of  the  living  animal.  It 
is  not  uncommon  to  see  these  helpless  creatures 
tongueless  and  eyeless  from  the  fiendish  attacks  of 
the  feathered  hyenas.  So  bad  have  these  bird- 
terrors  become  that  some  sheep-runs  have  had  to  be 


44     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

abandoned,  and  a  bounty  has  long  ago  been  set 
upon  their  lives.  Indeed  they  have  become  so  bold 
as  to  attack  horses  and  other  large  domestic  ani- 
mals. 

Fly-catchers  have  a  most  novel  and  interesting 
way  of  patrolling  their  territory:  concealing  them- 
selves among  the  branches  of  trees,  they  patiently 
await  the  appearance  of  flies,  bees,  butterflies,  and 
other  insects,  and  greedily  pounce  upon  them. 
Again  and  again  they  return  to  the  same  stand  and 
wait  for  their  prey. 

Swallows  and  swifts  sail  high  in  the  air,  and  fol- 
low a  system  of  intricate  curvings  and  divings  in 
search  of  insects  which  fly  above  the  tree-tops. 
Humming-birds  sometimes  hunt  in  pairs,  and  one 
enters  a  large  cup-shaped  flower  to  catch  the  in- 
sects within,  while  the  other  bars  the  door! 

In  many  places  in  the  South  hundreds  of  bats 
appear  at  twilight,  dashing  here  and  there  to  catch 
insects.  At  times,  in  their  anxiety  to  catch  mosqui- 
toes, they  actually  fly  into  the  face  of  an  observer. 
These  night-watchmen  are  invaluable  in  their  ser- 
vice to  mankind  through  their  destruction  of 
myriads  of  noxious  insects. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  nocturnal  police- 
men are  owls.  They  are  many  in  number  and  va- 
riety of  species,  but  the  eagle  owl  is  the  paradox  of 


POLICEMEN  OF  THE  AIR         45 

the  bird  kingdom.  It  is  savage,  dull,  miserable, 
and  sad!  It  is  the  terror  of  the  night,  and  the 
largest  of  all  known  owls — two  feet  long,  with 
wings  six  feet  in  expanse.  Its  home  is  usually  in 
the  loneliest  forest,  among  ancient  walls,  monas- 
teries, ruins,  or  on  a  steep  precipice  near  a  small  vil- 
lage; even  in  an  old  church  tower  they  are  found. 
Wordsworth  justly  speaks  of  this  king  of  the  night 
in  the  following  lines: 

"Grave  creature ! — whether,  while  the  moon  shines  bright 
On  thy  wings  opened  wide  for  smoothest  flight, 
Thou  art  discovered  in  a  roofless  tower, 
Rising  from  what  may  once  have  been  a  lady's  bower; 
Or  spied  where  thou  sitt'st  moping  in  thy  mew 
At  the  dim  centre  of  churchyard  yew; 
Or,  from  a  rifted  crag  or  ivy  tod 
Deep  in  a  forest,  thy  secure  abode, 
Thou  giv'st,  for  pastime's  sake,  by  shriek  or  shout, 
A  puzzling  notice  of  their  whereabout — 
May  the  night  never  come,  nor  day  be  seen, 
When  I  shall  scorn  thy  voice,  or  mock  thy  mein !" 

This  fantastic  officer  of  the  night  ruffles  his 
feathers  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  himself  ap- 
pear twice  his  actual  size.  Naumann  in  referring 
to  him  says:  "In  that  large,  shapeless  mass  of  feath- 
ers, one  can  scarcely  distinguish  the  limbs ;  the  half- 
closed  eyes  hide  their  glorious  rays;  suddenly  the 
bird  opens  them  wide,  bends  the  head  and  upper 


46     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

part  of  the  body  forward,  swaying  from  side  to 
side,  and,  raising  first  one  foot  and  then  the  other, 
begins  to  tremble,  winks  slowly  with  the  eyelids, 
spits  like  a  cat,  and  snaps  its  bill;  when  angry,  its 
eyes  flash  fire,  it  bends  forward  with  hanging  wings, 
ruffles  its  plumage  as  much  as  possible,  and,  snap- 
ping and  hissing,  dashes  furiously  at  the  enemy." 

The  eagle  owl  is  justly  hated  by  all  day  birds, 
for  he  preys  on  every  living  creature  that  comes 
within  his  ken.  He  is  a  murderer  of  the  lowest  de- 
gree, and  seeks  the  darkness  of  night  to  do  his  vile 
deeds.  He  noiselessly  enters  caves  and  flies  in  and 
out  among  the  trees  to  kill  his  prey.  Nothing  is 
safe  from  his  moonlight  eyes  and  piercing  talons. 
It  is  small  wonder  that  this  Prince  of  Darkness, 
if  discovered  during  the  day  taking  his  siesta,  is 
pounced  upon  by  myriads  of  enemies. 

Nothing  sounds  more  ghost-like  than  the  "Poo- 
hoo!  Poohoo!"  of  these  owl  policemen  as  they  sig- 
nal in  the  darkness.  An  entire  forest  is  frightened 
by  their  strange  and  weird  noises,  so  uncanny  as 
to  make  one's  hair  or  feathers  stand  up !  Their  shrill, 
mocking  laugh,  weird  imitations  of  wolves,  scream- 
ing hyenas,  and  a  hissing  sound  like  that  of  an  im- 
mense serpent — all  these  are  calculated  to  give  rise 
to  strange  and  ghostly  beliefs  concerning  them. 
Even  the  truth  of  the  legend  of  the  wild  huntsman 


POLICEMEN  OF  THE  AIR         47 

is  not  unthinkable!    And  one  is  reminded  of  Bol- 
ton's  words: 

"What  time  the  timid  hare  limps  to  feed, 
When  the  scared  owl  skims  round  the  grassy  mead; 
Then  high  in  air,  and  poised  upon  his  wings, 
Unseen  the  soft,  enamored  wood  lark  sings." 

Another  interesting  officer  of  the  •  night  is  the 
night j  ar  or  fern  owl.  He  also  belongs  to  a  numer- 
ous family  whose  individual  species  the  Spanish 
call  by  various  names,  such  as  "the  father  of  the 
wind,"  "shepherd's  deceiver,"  "big-mouth,"  "ghost- 
eater,"  "death  watch,"  and  "spirit  breeder."  By 
form  and  colouring  he  is  well  fitted  to  conceal  him- 
self from  sight.  His  coat  of  feathers  is  spotted  and 
blotched  with  innumerable  shades  from  dark  brown 
to  light  greenish-grey,  not  unlike  the  colour  of 
hickory  bark.  His  broad  head  has  a  small  beak, 
but  an  enormous  mouth,  trimmed  with  long  hairs. 
The  large  gape  enables  the  bird  easily  to  catch 
moths  and  beetles  whenever  he  goes  forth.  On 
moonlight  nights  he  hunts  all  night,  hawking  in- 
sects and  swallowing  them  alive  until  his  crop  is 
gorged  full. 

His  song  is  most  pleasing.  In  America  he  is 
commonly  known  under  the  name  of  his  "whip- 
poor-will"  melody.  It  is  a  nocturnal  serenade  that 
is  unsurpassed  for  its  beauty  and  charm. 


48     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

Nearly  all  types  of  birds  perform  certain  du- 
ties in  nature  which  help  to  keep  the  balance  in  the 
animate  world.  And  those  species  which  contri- 
bute by  their  activities  to  the  welfare  of  man  are 
naturally  the  most  interesting  to  us.  Many  times 
in  his  history  has  man  been  relieved  of  overwhelm- 
ing pests,  and  received  constant  protection  against 
ever-present  menaces  to  his  safety  or  well-being,  by 
his  feathered  brothers  of  the  air.  In  the  words  of 
Longfellow : 

"You  call  them  thieves  and  pillagers ;  but  know 
They  are  the  winged  wardens  of  your  farms, 
Who  from  the  cornfields  drive  the  insidious  foe, 
And  from  your  harvests  keep  a  hundred  harms ; 
Even  the  blackest  of  them  all,  the  crow, 
Renders  good  service  as  your  man-at-arms, 
Crushing  the  beetle  in  his  coat  of  mail, 
And  crying  havoc  on  the  slug  and  snail." 

In  the  past  man  has  been  more  or  less  blind  to 
this  fact,  and  has  consistently  wronged  many  of 
his  allies  through  his  own  ignorance.  Wars  of 
extermination,  which  have  been  carried  on  from 
time  to  time,  when  successful,  have  nearly  always 
brought  heavy  penalties.  Birds  prey  upon  all 
kinds  of  vermin,  which,  when  no  longer  kept  deci- 
mated, often  overrun  and  destroy  the  harvests,  and 
men  are  helpless  to  aid  themselves.  Locust-birds 


POLICEMEN  OF  THE  AIR         49 

are  the  only  exterminators  of  locusts.  Rodents  and 
other  prolific  mammals  would  do  untold  harm  were 
their  numbers  not  kept  down  by  the  bird  police. 

A  notable  example  of  this  kind  may  be  found  in 
the  great  vole  plague  in  England  in  1890-2.  At 
this  time  the  common  field-vole  multiplied  to  such 
an  extent  that  whole  districts  were  threatened  with 
utter  ruin.  The  plague  was  curbed  only  by  the 
aid  of  birds  of  prey,  especially  kestrels  and  short- 
eared  owls. 

Birds  also  accomplish  many  other  works  of  na- 
ture by  which  the  earth  and  man  are  benefited. 
Plant  seeds  are  carried  and  widely  dispersed  in  the 
crops,  talons,  or  plumage  of  most  birds.  The  po- 
licemen of  the  air  are  important  agents  in  these 
works  for  the  good  of  all  life  upon  this  planet. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  only  a  few  rare  souls 
in  the  human  world  realise  how  invaluable  to  man- 
kind are  these  wild  creatures  of  the  air,  whose  equip- 
ment is  unequalled  for  the  part  they  have  to  play 
in  keeping  nature's  balance  just.  They  are  the 
greatest  friends  of  all  farmers,  stock  raisers,  and 
fruit  growers;  and  they  should  be  regarded  as 
man's  most  valuable  allies,  without  whose  aid  agri- 
culture could  not  be  carried  on  with  great  success. 
The  destruction  of  birds  means  disaster  in  the  long 
run.  America  and  England  should  be  justly  proud 


50     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

of  what  they  have  already  done  for  the  protection 
of  their  feathered  friends,  and  press  on  to  larger 
accomplishments.  Let  every  man  respect  and  pro- 
tect the  natural  policemen  of  the  air! 


CHAPTER  IV 

DANCERS 

.  .  .  And  round  and  round 

The  plovers  wheel,  and  give  their  note  of  joy. 

— Southey. 

IN  no  way  do  birds  show  their  human  qualities 
more  than  by  their  love  and  perfection  in  the 
terpsichorean  art.  They  are  very  similar  to  human 
beings  in  this  desire.  Some  like  dancing  because 
it  enables  them  to  display  their  gaudy  feathers  and 
beautiful  and  graceful  forms;  others  consider  that 
it  is  an  exceptionally  attractive  social  grace;  while 
still  another  group,  with  a  subtler  intelligence,  are 
enabled  to  express  in  their  dancing  the  joy  of  life 
and  its  conflicting  emotions. 

Victory,  defeat,  beauty  of  scenery,  and  favour- 
able climatic  conditions  for  hunting  are  some  of 
the  occasions  for  a  dance.  The  birds  are  like  the 
American  Indian,  who  introduces  dancing  at  every 
possible  occasion.  The  fact  that  the  female  bird  is 
rarely  allowed  to  join  in  may  be  explained  by  say- 
ing that  most  often  the  male  is  endeavouring  to 

51 


52      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

win  the  admiration  of  the  less  pretentious  members 
of  the  other  sex,  just  as  the  Indian  dances  best  in 
the  presence  of  the  squaw  whom  he  wishes  to  win 
for  his  wife. 

The  American  sharp-tailed  grouse  is  perhaps  the 
Isadora  Duncan  of  the  bird  world.  This  interest- 
ing dancing  family  thrives  from  Illinois  to  Alaska. 
They  begin  their  dances  in  the  early  spring  after 
getting  their  plumage  in  the  most  beautiful  condi- 
tion. The  grouse  assemble  in  small  groups,  and 
wander  around  until  another  group  is  found ;  these 
unite  and  the  increased  flock  circle  until  still  an- 
other flock  arrives.  This  continues  until  a  flock  has 
reached  the  proper  number.  Then  follows  a  most 
elaborate  preparation  for  the  auspicious  occasion. 

The  ballroom  floor  is  nothing  more  nor  less  than 
a  plot  of  ground  of  trampled  grass  about  forty  or 
fifty  feet  square,  located  in  small  shrubbery  so  as 
to  be  concealed  from  curious  eyes,  or  enemies. 
When  this  is  in  readiness  the  female  birds  demurely 
retire  to  the  edges  of  the  grass-plot,  where  they 
may  watch  the  dance  while  they  are  themselves  half 
hidden  by  the  surrounding  shrubbery.  As  all  of 
the  males  wish  to  participate,  there  are  no  profes- 
sional musicians  but  each  male  furnishes  his  own 
music.  Ruffling  up  their  neck  feathers,  dropping 
their  gawky  and  rapidly  vibrating  wings  close  to 


DANCERS  53 

the  earth,  elevating  their  beautiful  tails,  these  male 
ballet-dancers  waltz  round  and  round  each  other, 
whirling  sometimes  one  way,  sometimes  another. 
Suddenly  they  arise,  inflate  their  bodies  like  small 
balloons  and  assume  the  most  soldier-like  attitudes ; 
slowly,  like  important  dignitaries  exchanging  cour- 
tesies, they  move  around  in  groups,  advancing  and 
retiring  with  dignity  befitting  the  occasion.  Oc- 
casionally they  chatter  to  each  other,  as  if  in  praise 
of  their  wonderful  achievements,  or  perhaps  it  is  to 
encourage  to  better  efforts  some  awkward  member 
of  the  ballet! 

These  "chicken  stamping  grounds,"  as  they  are 
called  in  the  West,  are  often  used  for  several  sea- 
sons. Unless  the  birds  are  disturbed  they  return 
to  the  same  courting  grounds  indefinitely.  West- 
erners tell  us  that  occasionally  the  same  spot  has 
been  used  for  their  dances  so  long  that  small  runs 
or  roads  are  made  to  it  from  all  directions.  These 
ballrooms  are  invariably  located  in  good  feeding 
districts,  and  are  frequently  near  rivers. 

A  cousin  of  the  cranes  and  herons,  the  hammer- 
head, lives  in  Africa  and  Madagascar.  He  is  an 
unusually  talented  bird,  being  a  skilled  architect, 
an  astronomer,  and  a  clever  dancer.  He  is  about 
the  size  of  a  small  raven,  and  builds  his  gigantic 
mansion,  sometimes  six  feet  in  diameter,  on  a  rocky 


54     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

ledge  near  a  stream  of  running  water,  or  in  the  forks 
of  a  low  tree.  This  home  is  very  substantially  built 
of  grasses,  roots,  sticks,  with  a  slanting,  flat-topped 
roof. 

The  interior  is  lined  and  decorated  in  red  clay, 
and  there  is  a  small  entrance  at  the  side  which 
leads  into  the  main  hall.  A  number  of  various 
kinds  of  bone  specimens  are  always  found  within 
this  student's  home,  but  evidently  they  are  not 
there  for  study  purposes  even  though  he  does  look 
somewhat  like  a  student  and  a  philosopher.  As 
an  architect  he  ranks  among  the  best.  His  living- 
room  is  beautifully  formed,  and  is  divided  into  a 
living-room  and  a  nursery.  This  makes  three  dis- 
tinct rooms  in  all,  if  we  count  the  hallway.  He 
also  shows  his  artistic  ability  by  the  manner  in 
which  he  decorates  the  outside  of  his  home  with 
trinkets  and  ornaments. 

He  is  a  very  peculiar  being  in  his  dress  of  brown, 
trimmed  in  a  purplish  sheen;  the  head-dress  is  so 
arranged  that  it  looks  like  a  hammer — thus  his 
name.  And  withal  his  ways  are  quite  as  odd  as  his 
appearance.  In  speaking  of  him,  M.  Oustalet  said : 
"He  may  be  observed  for  hours  at  a  time  walking 
upon  the  river-bank  like  a  peripatetic  philosopher. 
Marching  solemnly  along  with  shoulders  humped, 
and  gazing  earnestly  upon  the  ground,  he  appears 


DANCERS  55 

to  be  engaged  in  profound  meditation ;  occasionally 
he  shakes  his  head  vigorously  as  if  to  drive  away 
some  importunate  thought.  But  he  is  engaged  in 
no  more  intellectual  occupation  than  a  careful 
search  for  his  supper  of  small  mollusks." 

If  a  female  hammer-head  chances  to  move  near 
him,  he  suddenly  opens  his  wings  and  begins  to 
dance  in  the  moonlight  for  her  and  with  her.  When 
the  dance  is  ended,  he  again  assumes  a  ministerial 
air  quite  befitting  so  learned  a  creature. 

The  great  bird  of  paradise  assembles  in  a  large 
tree  with  a  number  of  fellow  artists  who  gather  to 
dance  and  display  their  elegance  and  beauty.  Here, 
where  there  is  plenty  of  room  among  the  foliage, 
these  exquisite  creatures  raise  their  wings  over  their 
backs,  curve  out  their  necks,  while  their  rich, 
golden  side-feathers  are  kept  in  perpetual  vibra- 
tion. Of  course,  they  have  to  hop  from  branch  to 
branch,  if  they  wish  to  change  positions,  and  they 
are  more  like  a  flying  ballet  than  a  group  of  regu- 
lar dancers. 

The  sage  cock,  a  native  of  the  foot-hills  and 
prairies  between  western  Kansas  and  the  Sierra 
Nevada  and  Cascade  Ranges,  drums  as  well  as 
dances  to  win  a  bride.  He  is  not  quite  so  skilled 
in  dancing  as  many  of  his  cousins  of  the  .West, 
although  he  is  a  magnificent  artist  at  parade.  No 


56     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

regiment  of  soldiers  could  equal  the  stately  poise 
and  steps  in  which  he  so  frequently  indulges.  With 
his  fan-like  tail  gracefully  spread,  his  neck  poised 
in  the  most  approved  military  style,  wings  stiffened 
and  arched  to  the  ground  like  the  sails  of  a  boat, 
he  marches,  struts,  drums,  wheels,  constantly  pro- 
ducing a  deep  guttural  and  altogether  unlovely 
song  until  some  lonely  female  accepts  him  for  a 
mate. 

The  dusky  grouse  also  drums  for  his  own  dance. 
He  dances  not  only  during  the  day,  but  also  the 
early  part  of  the  night  during  the  mating  season. 
Evidently  he  does  not  believe  in  letting  the  object 
of  his  affection  have  a  chance  to  think  alone  over 
his  proposal.  His  song  is  totally  lacking  in  charm, 
and  is  more  like  a  whirring  or  guttural  whining 
than  real  music.  This  he  produces  by  an  alternate 
inflation  and  contraction  of  the  air  sacs  in  his 
throat. 

Perhaps  among  the  classical  dancers  the  wild 
turkey  gobbler  should  be  ranked  as  a  leader  1  His 
dances  consist  chiefly  of  graceful  poses,  marches, 
and  wheelings  done  with  an  airiness  and  grace  pos- 
sible to  few  artists.  Occasionally  he  springs  up  in 
the  air  precisely  as  if  he  had  been  turned  suddenly 
into  a  feather-like  ball  and  was  floating  upward 
without  any  effort, 


DANCERS  57 

Should  the  turkey  hens  refuse  to  pay  attention 
to  his  marvellous  stunts,  he  continues  to  stretch  his 
wings  to  his  sides  as  he  assumes  the  most  varied  and 
commanding  positions  imaginable  and  clucks  as 
though  he  were  saying,  "Notice  me!  Behold  my 
grandeur!  Am  I  not  a  wonder?"  And  should  a 
lovely  bronze  belle  deign  to  notice  him,  he  dis- 
plays his  plumage  to  the  greatest  advantage  by 
spreading  his  massive  tail,  sweeping  the  ground 
with  his  quivering  and  expanded  wings,  while  his 
proud  head  is  drawn  back  with  the  dignity  of  a 
prancing  circus  horse. 

Should  he  be  approached  by  a  rival  wooer,  then 
a  battle  royal  ensues,  and  ends  only  in  death  or  a 
dishonourable  retreat  by  one  of  the  contestants. 
The  victorious  warrior  is  truly  a  proud  bird!  He 
struts  through  the  woods,  loudly  announcing  his 
victory  and  calling  attention  to  his  magnificent 
warrior-like  proclivities. 

One  of  the  most  singular,  surely  the  most  beau- 
tiful, and  perhaps  the  most  versatile,  feathered  ar- 
tist is  the  lyre-bird  of  the  Southern  Archipelago. 
It  is  difficult  to  classify  him  according  to  any  one  of 
his  accomplishments.  He  is  ranked  among  the 
mocking-birds  as  a  songster ;  he  is  one  of  the  leading 
birds  as  a  trjck-artist  and  imitator:  he  mimics  the 
sound  of  everything  from  a  croaking  frog  to  the 


58     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

cry  of  a  child;  and  not  the  least  among  his  accom- 
plishments is  his  dancing.  In  this  field  he  is  unique 
indeed. 

Perhaps  no  other  bird  dancer  has  a  more  delight- 
ful and  varied  costume,  though  his  large  feet  would 
seem  to  be  against  him.  His  exquisite  lyre-like 
tail,  from  which  he  derives  his  name,  is  the  glory 
and  the  despair  of  other  dancers.  This  feathered 
instrument  is  formed  of  two  wonderfully  curved 
outer  feathers  with  transparent  patches  of  delicate, 
silk-like  feathers  which  appear  like  notches  extend- 
ing along  the  entire  inner  side  of  the  web;  there 
are  also  a  number  of  soft,  fairy-like  plumes  resem- 
bling the  feathers  of  the  bird  of  paradise. 

The  lyre-bird's  plumage  attains  perfection  only 
after  four  years  of  growth,  and  then  it  remains  with 
him  for  only  a  brief  period  before  it  is  moulted.  He 
is  very  proud  of  his  wonderful  lyre,  and  when  he 
travels  through  the  woods  he  carries  it  straight  in 
line  with  his  body.  This  assures  its  protection. 
When  he  wishes  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  op- 
posite sex,  he  sings  and  dances,  hops  and  jumps, 
springs  up  into  a  nearby  tree,  flops  again  to  the 
ground,  goes  through  all  sorts  of  weird  and  grace- 
ful movements  and  gestures,  and  poses  his  body  in 
all  imaginable  ways.  This  is  followed  by  a  series 


DANCERS  59 

of  pecking  movements  which  he  accompanies  by  a 
movement  of  his  tail  as  he  sings. 

The  ruffled  grouse,  whose  habitat  extends  from 
Texas  to  Canada,  and  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to 
the  Pacific,  is  both  a  dancer  and  a  musician.  His 
special  instrument  is  the  kettle-drum,  although  at 
times  he  produces  a  booming  sound  with  his  wings. 
His  favourite  ballroom  is  on  a  dead  log.  Here  he 
displays  his  soldier-like  costume  and  handsome  body 
in  a  series  of  most  remarkable  dances.  Unlike  many 
of  his  cousins  he  refuses  to  dance  the  ordinary 
minuets  and  quadrilles,  but  gallantly  struts  up  and 
down  the  log,  swelling  his  body  to  the  music  of  his 
own  making,  until  a  handsome  female  chances  to 
appear  on  the  scene.  Should  he  seem  to  have  no 
audience,  he  stops  his  dance  long  enough  to  pro- 
duce a  booming  sound  with  his  strong  wings.  This 
amusement  is  continued  until  an  audience  has  as- 
sembled and  some  fair  grouse  has  chosen  him  for  a 
mate. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  two  or  three  grouse 
assemble  and  dance  on  the  same  log.  The  drum- 
ming occurs  between  February  and  April  and  con- 
tinues until  all  the  birds  have  mated.  The  spruce 
partridge  of  Canada  is  famed  for  his  soldier-like 
ways  and  rustic  dancing.  Dancing,  however,  is 
secondary  among  his  wooing  accomplishments, 


60      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

Drumming  comes  first;  and  this  is  done  in  a  most 
jnusual  way.  As  he  rises  in  the  air  and  descends  with 
his  broad  tail  expanded  and  vibrating,  a  peculiar 
metallic  sound  is  produced.  It  is  not  very  musical 
at  best,  but  all  the  female  partridges  from  far  and 
near  come  to  hear  and  see  the  wonderful  perform- 
ance. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  a  lively  combat  en- 
sues, and  terminates  only  in  death.  This  battle  is 
often  fought  right  on  the  dancing-floor  and  the 
females  take  unusual  interest  in  it.  After  the  bat- 
tle has  ended  and  the  lucky  bird  has  won  his  bride, 
all  dancing  and  drumming  ceases  and  perfect  har- 
mony follows. 

Truly  wonderful  is  the  dainty  dancing  of  the 
little  English  sparrow.  It  often  happens  that 
several  males  will  dance  and  chirp  in  rivalry  for 
the  same  female.  This  interesting  and  sometimes 
despised  little  sparrow  is  perhaps  the  best  friend 
man  has  among  birds.  He  is  indeed  in  the  bird 
world  what  the  dog  is  in  the  animal  world.  One 
who  knows  his  wonderful  habits  must  believe  as 
Cornwall,  that  we  should  not  harm  him: 

"Touch  not  the  little  sparrow,  who  doth  build 
His  home  so  near  us.     He  doth  follow  us 
From  spot  to  spot  amidst  the  turbulent  town 
And  ne'er  deserts  us." 


DANCERS  61 

This  bird  celebrity  is  perhaps  the  most  abused 
and  misunderstood  friend  of  the  human  race.  He 
is  strictly  a  city  bird ;  and  mankind  seems  especially 
informed  about  his  disagreeable  habits,  with  little 
knowledge  of  how  much  good  he  does  for  the  hu- 
man race.  His  sins  and  shortcomings  have  been 
greatly  overestimated.  Let  us  learn  something 
about  this  abused  friend  of  ours.  He  is  surely 
among  the  most  intelligent  of  birds,  living  always  on 
intimate  terms  with  man.  It  is  this  intelligence 
that  causes  him  never  to  trust  the  lord  of  creation. 
A  young  sparrow  is  stupid,  but  an  old  one  is  a  sage. 
He  is  famed  for  his  cleverness,  cunning,  patience, 
persistence,  caution,  and  the  ability  to  act  and 
dance.  As  a  protection  to  city  parks,  trees,  shrub- 
bery, and  flowers  he  has  no  equal.  In  fact,  if  it 
were  not  for  the  sparrows  in  these  days  of  pests, 
we  could  have  few  city  flowers  or  even  trees. 

"The  abuse  of  the  English  sparrow,"  wrote 
Archibald  C.  Weeks,  in  the  New  York  Tribune, 
"is  due  to  ignorance  and  unwarranted  prejudice. 
No  person  is  competent  to  judge  of  birds  unless 
possessed  of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  activities 
and  life  histories  of  insects  and  competent  to  dif- 
ferentiate between  the  beneficial  and  injurious. 
There  is  no  bird  which  can  measure  up  to  the  spar- 


62      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

row  in  the  destruction  of  noxious  insects  or  as  a  pro- 
moter of  sanitation. 

"The  claim  that  it  drives  away  other  birds  is 
largely  unfounded.  It  does  not  frequent  the  for- 
ests, where  the  native  birds  are  left  undisturbed, 
but  clings  to  human  habitation,  the  more  dense  the 
better,  where  few  other  birds  could  safely  nest  or 
obtain  food  even  if  there  were  no  sparrows.  It  is  a 
marvellous  destroyer  of  the  cutworm  and  can  even 
rout  the  moth  from  its  concealment  in  the  grass, 
which  no  other  bird  seems  to  be  able  to  do.  As  a 
consumer  of  thistle  and  weed  seeds  it  has  no  equal 
except  perhaps  the  quail.  In  New  York  City  the 
spring  and  fall  canker  worms  (geometrid  larvae), 
which  formerly  defoliated  the  shade  trees,  are  now 
so  rare  that  the  collector  has  difficulty  in  obtaining 
a  specimen  for  his  cabinet.  Few  insects  are  safe 
from  the  bird.  The  imported  European  leopard 
moth,  whose  deep  boring  larvae  are  nearly  immune 
from  destruction,  is  effectually  checked,  as  the  spar- 
row consumes  the  moths  as  they  lie  prone  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground  under  the  electric  lights 
which  attracted  them  the  previous  night. 

"I  suggested  starvation  as  a  means  of  insect  con- 
trol over  25  years  ago.  The  United  States  Health 
Service  has  adopted  my  suggestion  for  the  purpose 
of  eliminating  the  rat  by  advising  the  storage  of 


DANCERS  63 

all  grains  in  inaccessible  containers.  The  object 
sought  is  to  prevent  this  rodent,  through  the  me- 
dium of  its  parasitic  flea,  from  acting  as  a  purveyor 
of  bubonic  plague.  The  sparrow,  however,  is  doing 
the  most  effective  part  of  the  work  by  consuming 
every  particle  of  scattered  grain  throughout  the 
streets  and  around  barns  and  granaries,  and  also  all 
food  products  derived  from  grain,  which  are  strewn 
more  or  less  plentifully  over  the  surface  of  the 
ground  in  every  yard,  street  and  dumping  place. 
Not  only  are  rats  and  mice  thus  prevented  from  ob- 
taining sustenance,  but  the  attracting,  breeding  and 
multiplication  of  house  and  other  flies  and  various 
other  insects  are  prevented." 

Love  plays  a  prominent  part  in  the  active  life 
of  the  sparrow;  he  courts  from  morning  until  night, 
if  he  is  unmated.  He  bows  and  scrapes  and  pa- 
rades himself  before  his  love  in  all  the  glory  of  his 
rich  brown  uniform  trimmed  in  white  and  tan 
stripes,  with  such  perseverance  that  the  shyest  spar- 
row belle  could  not  resist  his  wooing.  As  soon  as 
she  accepts  him,  they  fly  away  to  a  suitable  place 
to  begin  preparing  their  cosy  apartment — as  he 
also  is  an  apartment  dweller  like  man. 

As  soon  as  a  young  family  is  started,  the  father 
and  mother  work  from  early  dawn  to  sunset  feed- 
ing the  babes.  If  other  birds  come  near  the  nest, 


64      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

quarrelling  and  fighting  results,  as  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sparrow  are  valiant  defenders  of  their  homes.  The 
young,  as  soon  as  they  are  able  to  fly,  are  also 
taught  to  defend  themselves,  for  their  parents 
know  well  the  brawling  routine  of  sparrow  life. 

Crows  have  wonderful  dances,  but  they  are  dif- 
ficult to  describe  because  of  their  variations.  They 
hop,  skip,  jump,  run,  turn  somersaults,  change 
positions,  seemingly  salute  each  other,  suddenly 
stop  and  fly  away.  The  same  may  be  said  of  wild 
geese  and  ducks,  though  these  birds  hold  most  of 
their  sports  on  the  water  and  their  dancing  is  more 
on  the  order  of  aquatic  sports.  Cranes  and  ibises 
dance  both  in  water  and  on  land,  although  all  of 
their  dancing  appears  more  like  some  form  of  In- 
dian ceremony  than  actual  dancing,  as  it  often 
takes  place  just  preceding  a  battle  or  a  migration. 
It  may  be  their  form  of  council  meeting,  for  cer- 
tain ones  seem  to  wish  to  be  seen  and  heard  unduly. 

Since  the  days  when  Solomon's  fleet  first  intro- 
duced the  peacock  into  Palestine,  no  bird  has  had 
a  more  wonderful  history.  He  is  truly  not  only 
the  vainest  but  also  unquestionably  the  most  beau- 
tiful creature  of  the  feathered  kingdom.  Indeed 
it  may  be  said  that  he  reflects  the  wonder  of  all  the 
East.  Alexander  the  Great  so  loved  this  marvel- 
lous child  of  beauty  and  mystery  that  he  inflicted 


DANCERS  65 

severe  punishment  upon  any  one  who  dared  to  harm 
it.  The  peacock's  "plumage  scintillates  and  flashes 
so  as  to  be  inferior  in  its  splendour  only  to  those 
colours  that  are  kindled  into  life  by  the  sun,  and 
which  are  reflected  by  the  bird;  while  it  surpasses 
all  its  congeners  in  the  glory  of  its  sheen :  the  purple 
robes  of  the  glacier,  the  silver  surface  of  the  stream, 
the  blue  mists  of  the  distance,  and  the  deep  dark- 
ness of  heaven's  dome  above  complete  the  magic 
picture."  Yet  even  this  wonderful  child  of  beauty 
and  grandeur  finds  it  necessary  to  dance  and  pa- 
rade his  glory  before  the  feminine  sex  in  order  to 
win  a  mate ! 

During  the  mating  season,  he  seeks  the  company 
of  several  peahens,  hoping  that  out  of  a  number  he 
can  win  one  for  a  bride.  Gracefully  and  manfully 
he  faces  the  one  of  his  choice,  that  he  may  display 
his  exquisite  throat  and  breast  as  well  as  his  tail. 
If  she  appears  unconcerned,  he  immediately  as- 
sumes other  and  varied  poses,  hoping  thereby  to 
impress  her  with  his  grandeur.  If  this  does  not 
succeed,  he  marches  for  her — a  perfect  soldier,  with 
the  dignity  and  poise  of  an  army  officer.  These 
extraordinary  attitudes  are  continued  with  occa- 
sional light  dance  steps,  until  no  bird  could  resist 
such  ardent  wooing,  and  at  last  he  is  accepted  as 
a  mate. 


66     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

And  so  there  is  among  birds  a  variety  of  dancing 
and  social  pleasures  and  pastimes  as  great  as  we 
find  in  the  human  world.  And  there  is  yet  much 
to  be  learned  about  their  wonderful  knowledge  of 
life  and  its  strange  ways. 


CHAPTER  V 

FEATHERED  ATHLETES 

See  the  .  .  .  bird,  who  wildly  springs, 
With  a  keen  sparkle  in  his  glowing  eye 

And  a  strong  effort  in  his  quivering  wings, 
Up  to  the  blue  vault  of  the  happy  sky. 

— Norton. 

AMONG  birds,  as  in  the  human  world,  we 
find  many  different  forms  of  athletics. 
There  are  games,  sports,  and  various  competitive 
feats  of  strength,  involving  skill  and  endurance. 
The  conditions  of  their  environment  largely  de- 
termine the  nature  of  their  athletics.  Some  birds 
are  all-round  athletes  and  can  perform  numerous 
feats  with  equal  skill,  while  others  have  but  one 
specialty. 

The  competitive  sports  between  individuals  of 
the  ostrich  family  is  most  interesting.  With  their 
powerful  legs  they  are  able  to  race  as  no  other  bird 
can.  They  are  the  race  horses  of  the  feathered 
kingdom.  At  an  early  age,  the  young  ostrich  is 
taught  to  run  races — a  practice  which  prepares  him 
for  what  he  needs  later  in  life  in  the  way  of  self- 

67 


68      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

protection  through  rapid  pedestrianism.  Many  a 
race  is  run  and  honours  won  by  young  ostriches  on 
the  plains. 

Bird  racers  are  plentiful.  The  bustards  and 
plovers  are  among  the  swiftest ;  the  sandpipers  and 
larks  the  nimblest;  while  the  road  runners  are  the 
most  direct  in  their  methods,  and  the  only  ones  that 
indulge  in  relay  races.  While  these  relay  races 
may  be  the  result  of  fellow-racers  suddenly  appear- 
ing at  a  certain  post,  an  onlooker  would  believe 
them  to  have  been  definitely  arranged  beforehand. 

There  are  many  professional  divers  in  the  bird 
world.  The  depth  to  which  they  can  descend,  and 
the  length  of  time  they  can  remain  under  water, 
depend  entirely  upon  the  bird.  Like  human  div- 
ers, some  can  remain  under  water  for  several 
minutes  while  others  can  stay  under  for  only  a  few 
seconds.  Unquestionably,  the  greatest  diver  is  the 
eider  duck.  He  not  only  dives  the  deepest,  but 
remains  under  water  the  longest.  These  interest- 
ing friends  of  the  deep  often  dive  four  hundred 
feet  under  the  surface,  and  remain  there  from  four 
to  six  minutes.  The  northern  diver,  on  rare  occa- 
sions, remains  under  water  from  eight  to  ten 
minutes.  These  deep-sea  divers  are  running  great 
risks,  however,  when  they  remain  under  water  so 
long,  for  if  they  should  in  any  way  get  entangled 


FEATHERED  ATHLETES  69 

in  sea-moss  or  weeds  while  returning  to  the  sur- 
face, they  would  die  immediately.  The  Icelanders 
used  to  catch  ducks  by  means  of  baited  nets  spread 
over  the  water. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  different  methods 
pursued  by  divers  of  the  bird  world  in  teaching 
their  young  the  profession.  For  instance,  young 
penguins  are  not  introduced  to  the  water  until  they 
have  doffed  their  first  baby  suits  of  down.  Then 
they  are  led  to  the  water's  edge  and  crudely 
pushed  in.  Usually  the  baby  penguin  is  an  ex- 
pert at  the  first  trial  and  a  second  lesson  is  unneces- 
sary. But  if  he  refuses  to  swim,  and  later  to  dive, 
the  stern  mother  and  father  push  him  under  until 
he  gets  accustomed  to  the  water. 

Numerous  water  birds  have  too  much  plumage 
to  become  skilled  divers.  Being  wise,  they  rarely 
attempt  to  dive,  even  when  in  great  danger. 
Among  such  birds  may  be  noted  the  albatross, 
swan,  gull,  phalarope,  and  many  others.  The  peli- 
can is  too  much  like  a  balloon  to  dive  successfully 
— that  is,  the  epidermis  of  his  body  is  inflated  with 
air  cells  which  make  him  too  light.  Each  variety 
of  diver  has  a  different  kind  of  movement.  A  pro- 
fessional swimmer,  when  he  wishes  to  dive,  digs  the 
water  simultaneously  with  both  his  feet.  Occa- 
sionally he  tumbles  over  head-first  toward  the  wate.r 


70     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

before  disappearing.  Other  divers  do  not  make 
this  aerial  plunge. 

There  are  quite  a  few  high  divers  among  the 
birds,  and  their  beauty  of  form  is  shown  to  great 
advantage  in  their  profession.  Among  this  class 
of  divers  may  be  mentioned  the  booby,  the  king- 
fisher, the  osprey,  and  several  varieties  of  terns. 
The  booby  swoops  down  from  a  height  with  such 
a  force  that  he  is  often  dashed  to  pieces  against  the 
rocks.  Fabre  has  several  times  mentioned  this 
fact. 

Not  a  few  of  these  high  divers  after  reaching  the 
bottom  run  around  there  for  a  while.  The  dipper 
is  especially  fond  of  underwater  haunts.  There  he 
moves  along,  half -running  and  half -swimming, 
searching  about  this  stone  and  that;  then  suddenly 
he  arises  to  the  surface  and  is  seen  to  dart  through 
the  foaming  spray  of  water  to  a  beautiful,  mist- 
drained  nest.  With  his  wonderful  black-and- 
white  body  and  his  elusive  habits,  he  is  a  water- 
nymph  indeed! 

Swimmers  and  divers  of  the  far  north  who  live 
among  the  icebergs,  and  who  secure  their  food  en- 
tirely from  the  water,  have  devised  a  wonderful 
means  of  diving.  The  penguin  mentioned  in  the  re- 
port of  the  Challenger  Expedition  is  claimed  ac- 
tually to  swallow  stones  when  preparing  to  dive 


THE  GREAT  BLUE  HERON  IS  WELL  EQUIPPED  BY  NATURE  TO  BE  AN  ATHLETE 


FEATHERED  ATHLETES  71 

for  food,  that  it  may  sink  with  greater  ease.  He 
disgorges  them  when  he  returns  to  the  surface.  If 
this  is  true,  it  is  indeed  a  most  remarkable  way  of 
adjusting  weight.  Surely  a  wise  diver  could  de- 
vise a  better  scheme  for  a  ballast! 

Numerous  young  divers  seem  to  take  to  sub- 
mergence as  a  means  of  self-protection.  The 
chicks  of  the  lotus -bird  will  dive  under  water  at  the 
least  disturbance,  and  sometimes  remain  under 
from  ten  to  fifteen  minutes.  The  great-crested 
grebe  not  only  builds  its  nest  on  the  water,  where 
it  floats  around,  but  gathers  the  material,  such  as 
sea-weed  and  rush,  from  the  bottom  of  deep  water. 
How  true  are  the  words  of  Mary  Howett  when 
she  speaks  of  this  inhabitant  of  the  sea! 

"Amidst  the  foaming  wave  thou  sat'st 
And  steerd'st  thy  little  boat, 
Thy  nest  of  rush  and  water-reed 
So  bravely  set  afloat." 

The  chief  aim  of  divers  is  to  get  food.  It  is  not 
uncommon  for  diving  birds  to  be  caught  in  fish- 
nets at  a  great  distance  under  the  surface  of  the 
water.  The  shag  is  especially  gifted  in  diving, 
while  the  darters  and  the  great-crested  grebe  will 
dive  with  such  rapidity  and  then  swim  so  fast  that 
they  may  easily  cover  two  hundred  feet  in  less  than 
half  a  minute. 


72      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

This  interesting  water-nymph,  the  grebe,  wears 
a  wonderfully  graceful  and  imposing  head-dress. 
Both  the  male  and  female  grebe  possess  this  dou- 
ble-pointed group  of  feathers  on  the  crown  of 
the  head,  resembling  nothing  so  much  as  horns,  as 
the  bird  darts  through  the  water  and  like  a  flash 
of  lightning  dives  below,  searching  for  food,  or  hid- 
ing from  danger.  It  even  sleeps  upon  the  water, 
preens  and  oils  its  feathers,  suns  itself,  and  yet  man- 
ages to  remain  in  the  same  position.  This  is  done 
by  means  of  its  feet,  or  paddles,  which  are  con- 
stantly working;  during  a  storm  they  must  work 
extra  hard  to  keep  the  bird's  position. 

The  land  is  not  suited  to  the  grebe's  needs,  as 
its  legs  are  placed  so  far  back  on  the  body  that  it 
is  forced  to  walk  upright.  This  is  very  awkward 
indeed ;  but  when  swimming,  the  grebe  has  no  rival 
for  poise  and  dignity:  its  neck  is  held  in  a  graceful 
upright  position,  and  it  can  dive  with  no  noise  and 
as  silently  come  up  again.  However,  if  threatened 
with  danger,  it  plunges  beneath  the  waves  like  a 
frolicking  boy  in  a  mill-pond. 

Its  real  hunting  ground  is  at  the  bottom  of  the 
water  where  small  fish  and  insects  are  plentiful. 
It  loves  solitude,  and  will  rarely  remain  in  the 
company  of  even  ducks  or  coots.  The  most  singu- 
lar fact  in  the  bird's  whole  life  is  its  strange  and 


FEATHERED  ATHLETES          73 

inexplicable  habit  of  plucking  the  feathers  from  its 
own  body  and  eating  them.  Naumann  says: 
"These  feathers  seem  to  act  with  the  grebe  like 
sand  or  small  stones  do  with  many  other  birds,  as  a 
necessary  aid  to  digestion." 

No  movement  of  a  bird  seems  more  wonderful, 
as  far  as  position  is  concerned,  than  flying  under 
water.  Of  course,  water  is  more  difficult  for  a 
bird  to  fly  through  than  air,  because  of  the  greater 
pressure;  yet  not  a  few  divers  and  swimmers  are 
masters  of  this  strange  art  of  aquatic-aviation. 
They  might  be  termed  living  submarines.  These 
birds  have  much  smaller  wings  than  those  of  the 
professional  aviators,  as  large  wings  would  be  use- 
less under  water.  There  are  many  birds,  however, 
who  have  to  fly  both  under  water  and  in  the  air. 
These  are  handicapped  when  under  water  because 
they  have  to  fly  in  the  denser  medium  with  aerial- 
propellers. 

The  most  skilled  submarine  birds,  the  penguins, 
are  no  good  at  aviation.  Their  wings  are  nothing 
but  flat  paddles,  and  suitable  only  for  the  water. 
At  first  sight,  one  might  think  the  penguin  had  no 
feathers  at  all  on  its  wings,  but  such  is  not  the 
case ;  while  it  has  no  quills,  it  is  covered  with  scaly- 
like  feathers  which  are  totally  unlike  all  other 
feathers, 


As  might  be  expected,  these  bird-submarines  are 
extremely  awkward  on  land,  and  very  fish-like  in 
water.  Penguins  are  the  water-fairies  of  the  bird 
kingdom.  Mr.  Cornish,  in  speaking  of  their  un- 
derwater sports  and  the  silvery  appearance  of  the 
plumage,  caused  by  the  air  from  the  wings,  says: 
"They  seem  fitted  for  everlasting  flight  in  the 
palaces  and  grottoes  of  sea-nymphs,  across  which 
they  fly,  bearing  bubbles  of  sunlight  from  above, 
scattering  them  through  the  chambers  like  crystal 
globes  of  fire."  Darting  here  and  there  below  the 
surface,  leaving  a  lightning-like  trail  of  air-bubbles 
behind,  the  penguin  flashes  through  the  water  like 
a  comet  of  the  heavens.  It  seizes  and  swallows 
many  fish  without  the  slightest  hesitation,  and  when 
its  fishing  tour  is  over  it  quietly  rises  to  the  sur- 
face and  climbs  on  to  land — the  most  awkward  and 
clumsy  creature  imaginable. 

New  conditions  create  new  habits.  The  cormo- 
rant, according  to  Herr  Gatke,  the  distinguished 
ornithologist,  has  learned  how  to  immerse  itself  and 
remain  perfectly  motionless  in  a  pond  of  water  with 
only  its  head  above  the  surface,  and  from  this  posi- 
tion attack  flying  or  swimming  prey.  He  claims 
to  have  seen  the  cormorant  in  this  position  catch 
a  swallow  and  eat  it.  What  power  it  is  that  en- 
ables the  cormorant,  whose  body  is  many  times 


FEATHERED  ATHLETES          75 

lighter  than  an  equal  volume  of  water,  to  remain 
thus  silently  submerged,  no  one  knows.  It  may 
be  that  this  athlete  has  swallowed  pebbles  like  the 
penguins  of  the  north,  or  again  it  may  be  that  the 
bird  has  learned  some  new  power  of  balance  which 
man  may  discover  in  the  distant  future. 

The  cormorant  is  only  one  of  the  many  water- 
birds  whose  habits  are  baffling  to  the  mind  of  man. 
These  strange  people  of  the  water  have  air-sacs 
distributed  over  their  bodies  and  directly  connected 
with  their  throat  and  lungs;  these  air-sacs  make 
their  bodies  exceedingly  light  in  proportion  to  their 
size.  In  addition,  their  coats  of  feathery  plumage 
make  them  still  lighter;  as  a  result,  many  of  them 
practically  float  on  the  very  surface  of  the  water. 

In  the  bird  world  there  is  a  certain  amount  of 
competitive  sport  between  different  varieties  of 
athletes,  though  the  rivalry  is  not  nearly  so  preva- 
lent as  it  is  among  boys.  As  in  the  human  world, 
this  competition  teaches  those  qualities  so  much 
needed — self-control,  obedience,  and  leadership.  It 
also  arouses  a  spirit  of  emulation,  and  brings  about 
a  perfection  of  the  physical  body  as  is  attained  in 
no  other  way.  Birds  need  every  faculty  developed 
that  they  may  meet  and  conquer  all  difficulties  in 
their  search  for  •  food,  in  migration,  and  in  war. 
Incidentally,  the  general  development  as  the  world 


progresses  in  so-called  civilisation  means  more  dan- 
ger to  the  feathered  tribe. 

Woodpeckers  have  many  games  of  rivalry  in  the 
realms  of  professional  carpentry  and  climbing. 
They  can  mount  the  most  slippery  tree  by  a  series 
of  jumps  or  springs.  They  can  climb  around  dead 
trees  or  around  the  smallest  sapling  in  search  of 
food.  Their  nests  are  usually  burrowed  out  of  the 
wood  of  a  dead  tree.  They  are  the  greatest  aid  to 
fruit  orchards  because  of  the  many  pestiferous  in- 
sects they  destroy,  although  few  farmers  seem  to 
realise  it.  Nothing  is  more  delightful  than  the 
peculiar  call  of  these  red-headed  carpenters,  and 
their  continual  "rapping"  on  dead  trees  sounds  like 
hundreds  of  men-carpenters  at  work  on  a  house. 

The  green  woodpecker  is  shier  than  his  American 
cousin.  He  is  the  commonest  of  the  European 
species,  and  he  delights  to  dwell  in  the  depths  of 
woods  and  forests.  His  chief  food  is  insects  and 
worms,  and  his  tongue  is  peculiarly  shaped  so  that 
he  is  enabled  to  shoot  it  out  to  an  astonishing 
length  in  seizing  the  insect  or  worm  on  which  he 
feeds.  He  utters  a  piercing  cry  with  which  he 
makes  the  forest  resound.  He  has  another  cry, 
which  is  heard  only  occasionally,  like  a  noisy  burst 
of  laughter,  and  this  he  repeats  twenty  to  thirty 
times  in  rapid  succession.  He  has  still  another 


FEATHERED  ATHLETES          77 

plaintive  note  which  is  heard  usually  preceding  a 
storm,  and  is  called  his  weather-prophet  note.  But 
the  sound  for  which  he  is  most  famed  is  his  loud 
rapping  on  dead  trees.  And  this  he  does  very 
often  to  drive  insects  from  their  homes  under  the 
bark.  In  the  following  lines  to  the  woodpecker, 
the  poet  gives  us  a  true  picture  of  him: 

"Hail  to  thee,  woodpecker,  clothed  in  green! 

How  thy  verdant  mantle  concealeth  thee; 
'Mid  the  waving  foliage  scarcely  seen, 

As  thou  climbest  the  boughs  of  the  forest-tree. 
The  theme  of  the  villager's  song  art  thou, 

The  woodpecker  tapping  the  hollow  beech-tree." 

In  South  America  there  are  three  varieties  of 
birds  which  use  their  wings  for  other  purposes  than 
flying.  The  penguin  uses  his  wings  as  a  fish  uses 
his  fins,  and  may  be  termed  the  fish  of  the  bird 
world ;  the  ostrich  uses  his  wings  as  sails,  and  is  the 
ship  of  the  bird-world ;  while  the  loggerhead  duck, 
which  was  formerly  known  as  the  race-horse  of  the 
water  because  of  his  unusual  manner  of  running 
and  splashing  along,  is  now  called  by  the  more 
appropriate  name  of  steamer. 

The  wings  of  these  steamers  are  very  unusual, 
and  while  they  are  not  large  enough  or  strong 
enough  to  permit  of  much  flight,  yet  they  serve  by 
splashing  and  flopping  the  water  to  evolve  great 


speed.  The  strange  noise  produced  by  the  flop- 
ping of  a  number  of  these  loggerhead  ducks  is  very 
weird. 

Among  the  curious  sports  of  the  bird  world,  none 
is  more  striking  than  that  of  the  professional  jock- 
eys. These  jockeys  are  many  in  number  and  their 
beasts  of  burden  are  equally  numerous.  One  of 
the  best  known  of  this  profession  is  the  rosy  bee- 
eater  of  East  Africa.  Mr.  Arthur  Neumann  de- 
scribes him  as  continually  riding  about  "on  the  back 
of  the  large-crested  bustard  or  'pauw'  which  is  com- 
mon about  the  northern  extremity  of  Bassu.  It 
sits  far  back  on  the  rump  of  its  mount,  as  a  boy 
rides  a  donkey.  The  pauw  does  not  seem  to  resent 
this  liberty,  but  stalks  majestically  along,  while 
its  brilliantly  clad  little  jockey  keeps  a  lookout,  sit- 
ting sideways,  and  now  and  again  flies  up  after  an 
insect  it  has  espied,  returning  again  after  the  chase 
to  'its  camel'  as  Juma  (his  native  servant)  not 
inaptly  called  it.  ...  I  have  also  noticed  this 
pretty  little  bird  sitting  on  the  backs  of  goats, 
sheep,  and  antelopes,  but  the  pauw  seems  its  fa- 
vourite steed.  I  imagine  it  gets  more  flights  in 
this  way  at  game  put  up  by  its  bearer,  which  also 
affords  it  a  point  of  vantage  whence  to  sight  and 
pursue  its  prey  in  a  country  where  suitable  sticks 
to  perch  on  are  few." 


FEATHERED  ATHLETES          79 

Another  most  interesting  species  of  jockey  is  the 
oxpecker  or  rhinoceros-bird,  a  native  of  South 
Africa,  and  supposed  to  belong  to  the  Starling 
family.  This  jockey  prefers  to  ride  on  big  game, 
such  as  cattle  or  rhinoceroses ;  and  his  delight  is  not 
so  much  in  riding  as  in  the  insects  he  finds  on  the 
animals'  backs.  Recently,  however,  this  once  use- 
ful jockey  has  become  a  great  nuisance,  and  has 
fallen  into  disgrace,  since  he  has  learned  to  love 
not  only  ticks  but  blood.  He  now  attacks  the  cat- 
tle and  horses  wherever  he  finds  them,  and  perse- 
cutes them  terribly.  While  the  thick  hide  of  the 
rhinoceros  is  proof  against  the  strong  beaks  of 
these  jockey-birds,  those  of  the  more  delicate- 
skinned  domesticated  animals  is  thin  and  easily 
pricked. 

•In  America  and  England  the  starlings  and 
blackbirds  do  the  jockey  work.  In  East  Africa 
the  egrets  swarm  on  to  the  elephants  to  pick  off 
the  ticks.  The  animals  seem  to  enjoy  the  presence 
of  their  faithful  bird  friends  and  riders.  In  the 
early  days  of  American  history,  herds  of  buffalo 
were  followed  by  blackbirds  and  cow-birds,  and 
old  hunters  claim  that  these  animals  were  never 
disturbed  as  long  as  birds  were  on  their  backs.  It 
seems  that  the  birds  left  the  animals  only  in  time  of 


80      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

danger,  thus  acting  as  sentinels  for  their  beasts  of 
burden. 

A  unique  branch  of  professional  sport  in  the 
bird  world  is  fighting.  The  pugilistic  tendencies 
run  through  the  entire  bird  kingdom,  and  are  es- 
pecially marked  among  birds  of  prey.  These 
quarrelsome  creatures  fight  their  battles  in  the  air, 
and  the  aggressive  warrior  soars  above  his  adver- 
sary and  dashes  down  upon  him  with  terrific  force. 
If  the  lower  bird  is  sufficiently  skilled  in  duelling, 
he  turns  so  instantaneously  that  his  enemy  misses 
him  and  darts  past ;  if  there  is  no  chance  to  escape, 
he  often  turns  over  and  grasps  his  assailant,  and 
together  they  fall  to  the  ground.  This  form  of 
defence  is  common  among  kites. 

Game  birds  are  the  greatest  warriors.  They  are 
especially  pugnacious  during  the  mating  season. 
At  this  time  they  are  constantly  on  the  lookout  for 
a  rival,  and  are  ever  challenging  a  duel.  Every 
one  who  has  raised  game  chickens  knows  the  war- 
like propensities  of  these  birds.  When  two  cocks 
meet,  a  battle  always  follows  and  not  until  one  of 
the  combatants  is  wounded  or  killed  does  the  com- 
bat stop.  The  conquered  bird  is  forced  to  leave 
the  community,  and  if  he  has  a  harem  of  follow- 
ers they  either  go  with  him  or  become  reconciled  to 
his  conqueror. 


FEATHERED  ATHLETES          81 

Cock  pheasants  will  allow  no  rivals  on  their 
grounds;  each  has  his  own  drive,  and  when  a  rival 
appears  a  battle  follows  and  the  victor  is  left  in 
possession  of  the  run. 

Terrible  conquests  are  waged  by  the  various 
species  of  the  grouse.  If  the  female  has  two  or 
three  suitors,  a  rough-and-tumble  battle  ensues 
while  she  runs  about  the  battle-ground  watching 
its  progress  with  interest.  These  fights  have  been 
known  to  last  for  two  or  three  hours,  and  not  until 
the  ground  is  covered  with  feathers,  and  one  of  the 
warriors  killed,  do  they  cease. 

Sometimes  strategy  is  resorted  to  in  winning  a 
battle,  as  in  the  case  of  Reinhardt's  ptarmigan,  who 
lures  his  enemy  away  from  the  female  bird,  and 
then  suddenly  rushes  back  to  her.  They  disappear 
together ;  or  if  she  refuses  to  flee  with  him,  the  bat- 
tle with  his  opponent  is  vigorously  renewed,  and 
fought  to  a  finish,  with  a  bride  as  a  reward. 

The  weapons  used  by  pugilistic  birds  are  as  nu- 
merous as  they  are  varied.  There  are  claws, 
beaks,  spurs,  and  slugs,  in  the  form  of  feet,  which 
are  very  formidable.  The  cassowary  can  leap  and 
kick  with  almost  the  force  of  a  colt.  Numerous 
eagles  have  such  terrible  claws  that  they  can  swoop 
down  upon  a  young  goat  or  lamb  and  almost  in- 
stantly kill  it,  or  pick  up  the  young  of  deer  and  fly 


82      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

away  with  them.  It  is  claimed  that  the  harpy  eagle 
is  able  to  tear  a  rabbit  into  pieces  with  its  powerful 
claws.  Swans,  geese,  and  ducks  use  their  wings 
as  weapons  of  defence.  If  disturbed  while  incu- 
bating, swans  are  dangerous,  and  they  are  able  to 
use  their  wings  with  great  power  in  fighting. 
Geese  can  whip  most  dogs  with  their  wings,  while 
ducks  are  only  able  to  drive  away  smaller  animals, 
and  chickens.  Some  birds  have  knobs  on  the  end 
of  their  wings  which  they  use  as  fists. 

Spurs  are  perhaps  the  most  dangerous  and 
deadly  weapons  used  by  fighters,  with  the  exception 
of  talons.  They  are  used  by  the  pheasant  family, 
and  reach  their  greatest  perfection  in  the  jungle- 
fowl.  This  interesting  inhabitant  of  India  is  the 
ancestor  of  our  domestic  fowl  of  to-day;  the  old 
Greeks  referred  to  it  as  "the  bird."  When  it  was 
first  tamed,  no  one  knows,  but  it  is  certain  that  it 
dates  back  to  a  very  early  age,  for  the  first  known 
authors  make  frequent  mention  of  it  as  "the  cock." 

Many  of  our  present-day  game-cocks  have 
enormous  spurs.  These  weapons  are  bony,  very 
sharp-pointed  sheaths  which  look  like  miniature 
antelope  or  goat  horns.  They  are  located  on  the 
back  of  the  ankle  and  are  really  specially  developed 
claws.  The  number  of  spurs  possessed  by  a  single 
bird  depends  upon  its  variety  and  kind.  The 


SW5 


A  MOTHER  QUAIL  ON  GUARD  OVER  HER  NEST 


A  BLACK-BILLED  CUCKOO  AND  TWO  YELLOW  Hil.I.KD  CUCKOOS  IN  A  YELLOW- 
BILL'S  NEST 


FEATHERED  ATHLETES          83 

double-spurred  peacock  has,  as  his  name  implies, 
two  on  each  leg;  other  birds  have  three,  and  the 
blood-pheasant  has  sometimes  as  many  as  five. 
Cock-fighters  of  the  human  world  have  cruelly 
learned  how  to  plant  a  spur  in  a  game-cock's  head 
in  such  a  way  that  it  will  grow,  and  curve  directly 
over  the  bird's  eyes.  In  this  case,  it  serves  to  dig 
out  the  eyes  of  his  opponent  in  battle.  Again, 
sharp  steel  spurs  are  often  buckled  on  a  rooster's 
feet,  and  serve  to  slice  open  his  enemy.  This  form 
of  heathenish  sport  is  fast  disappearing,  even  in 
Mexico,  where  it  has  been  the  twin-sport  of  bull- 
fighting for  many  years. 

Spurs  ordinarily  are  developed  only  among  the 
male  of  a  species,  as  they  are  the  champions  of  tribe 
rights  and  must  defend  the  females.  However, 
this  is  not  always  the  case :  sometimes,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  Indian  spur-fowl,  the  female  has  spurs.  The 
French  partridge  has  a  knob  in  place  of  a  spur,  and 
guinea  fowls  have  the  same  defensive  weapons. 

Many  fighters  prefer  to  use  their  beaks  as 
weapons  of  defence.  Among  these  may  be  men- 
tioned redbirds,  blackbirds,  crows,  starlings, 
finches,  blue- jays,  and  numerous  others  of  the 
small  tribes.  While  the  beak  is  the  chief  weapon, 
each  bird  also  uses  his  wings  to  buffet  the  enemy, 


84      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

and  his  feet  to  balance  him  on  the  ground  or  in  the 
tree,  unless  the  battle  is  in  mid-air. 

Most  fights  of  the  bird  world  take  place  on  the 
courting  grounds,  and  in  the  mating  season.  As 
in  the  human  world,  the  male  usually  does  the 
courting;  but  this  is  not  always  true,  even  among 
birds.  Among  the  bustard-quails — small  birds, 
about  the  size  of  a  common  English  sparrow,  na- 
tives of  Africa  and  Asia — are  found  such  strange 
and  unusual  customs  that  we  quote  the  words  of 
Mr.  A.  O.  Hume,  perhaps  the  best  authority  on 
Indian  birds:  "The  most  remarkable  point  in  the 
life  history  of  these  bustard-quails  is  the  extraor- 
dinary fashion  in  which  amongst  them  the  position 
of  the  sexes  is  reversed.  The  females  are  the 
larger  and  handsomer  birds.  The  females  only, 
call;  the  females  only,  fight.  Natives  say  that 
they  fight  for  the  males,  and  probably  this  is  true. 
What  is  certain  is  that,  whereas  in  the  case  of  al- 
most all  the  other  game-birds,  it  is  the  males  alone 
that  can  be  caught  in  spring  cages,  etc.,  to  which 
they  are  attracted  by  the  calls  of  other  males,  and 
to  which  they  come  with  a  view  to  fighting,  in  this 
species  no  males  will  ever  come  to  a  cage  baited 
with  a  male,  whereas  every  female  within  hearing 
rushes  to  a  cage  in  which  a  female  is  confined,  and 
if  allowed  to  meet  during  the  breeding  season,  any 


FEATHERED  ATHLETES  85 

two  females  will  fight  until  one  or  the  other  is  dead, 
or  nearly  so. 

"The  males,  and  the  males  only,  as  we  have  now 
proved  in  numberless  cases,  sit  upon  the  eggs,  the 
females  meanwhile  larking  about,  calling  and  fight- 
ing, without  any  care  for  their  obedient  mates ;  and 
lastly,  the  males,  and  the  males  only,  I  believe,  tend 
and  are  to  be  flushed  along  with  the  young  brood. 
.  .  .  Almost  throughout  the  higher  sections  of  the 
animal  kingdom,  you  have  the  males  fighting  for 
the  females,  the  females  caring  for  the  young;  here 
in  one  insignificant  little  group  of  tiny  birds,  you 
have  the  ladies  fighting  duels  to  preserve  .  .  .  their 
husbands,  and  the  latter  sitting  meekly  in  the  nur- 
sery and  tending  the  young."  The  reason  for  these 
strange  masculine  tendencies  of  the  females  is  un- 
known to  naturalists.  Perhaps  at  some  distant 
date  we  will  understand  why  the  female  must  rule 
among  the  bustard-quails. 


CHAPTER  VI 

PROFESSIONAL   MUSICIANS 

'Tis  always  morning  somewhere;  and  above 
The  awakening  continents,  from  shore  to  shore, 
Somewhere  the  birds  are  singing  evermore. 

— Longfellow. 

OF  all  the  brilliant  endowments  of  birds,  there 
is  none  so  much  appreciated  by  man  as  their 
wonderful  art  of  music.  The  song  birds  are  the 
poets  of  the  feathered  tribe ;  they  are  the  bards  and 
troubadours  of  the  world,  for  their  songs  are  suited 
to  the  passing  moods  and  occasions,  and  are  de- 
termined thereby.  The  songs  of  the  birds,  being 
improvised  to  express  the  peculiar  emotion  of  the 
moment,  possess  a  spontaneity  that  human  musi- 
cians often  strive  in  vain  to  acquire. 

The  formal  songs  of  man,  perfect  in  art  as  many 
of  them  are,  still  lack  that  charm  that  nature 
brings — a  wonderful  essence  of  spiritual  effect. 
For,  to  express  all  that  the  heart  feels,  to  exhaust 
the  possibilities  of  a  thought  or  emotion,  to  leave 

nothing  to  the  imagination  of  the  hearer,  is  to  of- 

86 


PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS       87 

fend  by  excess  of  ardour.  This  is  often  the  error 
of  man-made  music ;  it  is  certainly  the  tendency  of 
every  over-developed  art.  The  rich,  full  strains 
of  a  wild  bird's  song  has  in  its  unstudied  form  noth- 
ing of  the  laboured  and  unnatural.  It  is  a  song 
from  the  heart,  and  to  be  really  appreciated  it  must 
be  listened  to  only  by  the  heart. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  songs  of  birds 
are  often,  if  not  always,  heard  with  a  certain  emo- 
tional understanding  and  sympathy  by  mankind 
that  all  his  complex  science  and  philosophy  can- 
not explain.  It  is  that  mysterious  sense  of  kinship 
that  exists  between  all  mortal  beings,  that  may  for 
long  intervals  be  hidden  by  the  passions  and  desires, 
but  responds  to  the  holy  strains  of  nature's  music 
from  the  throats  of  song  birds. 

The  poets  of  all  races  and  of  all  times  have  sung 
the  praises  of  our  feathered  brother-musicians ;  and 
in  their  kindred  art  they  have  caught  something  of 
that  charm  that  is  peculiar  only  to  the  singers  of 
the  air.  In  his  famous  poem,  To  a  Skylark,  Shel- 
ley has  probably  been  most  successful  in  the  com- 
munion of  spirit  between  bird  and  man.  He  feels 
the  matchless  eloquence  of  the  song  bird: 

"Chorus  hymeneal, 

Or  triumphal  chaunt, 
Matched  with  thine,  would  be  all 


88      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

But  an  empty  vaunt, 
A  thing  wherein  we  feel 
There  is  some  hidden  want." 

Not  all  the  poets  of  antiquity,  nor  any  of  his 
illustrious  contemporaries,  to  his  mind  possessed 
musical  powers  equal  or  comparable  to  the  wild 
bird,  with  its  "profuse  strains  of  unpremeditated 
art." 

To  us  who  are  accustomed  to  the  songs  of  birds 
in  every  woodland  the  thought  perhaps  never  pre- 
sented itself:  What  a  dreary  world  it  would  be 
without  the  music  of  the  birds !  The  city  park,  the 
suburban  wood  and  grove,  would  be  desolate  in- 
deed, without  the  song  of  a  single  bird.  The  deep 
primeval  forest,  with  its  weird  and  gloomy  shades, 
would  be  like  a  place  of  horror  and  magic  without 
the  chorus  of  a  thousand  happy  birds  to  proclaim 
in  many  keys  the  joys  of  life.  Were  they  not  there, 
only  the  unaccompanied  chanting  of  the  brook,  and 
the  whisper  of  the  winds  in  the  tree-tops,  and  the 
occasional  scream  of  a  beast  of  prey  would  greet 
the  ear.  There  would  seem  a  deathlike  stillness  in 
spite  of  the  other  sounds.  A  forest  without  birds 
would  be  a  vast  dark  mausoleum,  silent  and  forbid- 
ding, though  splendid.  They  are  a  necessary  part 
of  nature's  domain ;  and  a  sylvan  retreat,  decked  as 


PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS       89 

it  may  be  with  all  the  advantages  of  man-made  art, 
is  incomplete  without  the  songs  of  birds. 

They  are  an  important  part  of  the  world  in 
which  they  live,  not  only  for  their  esthetic  endow- 
ments, but  for  the  many  services  they  perform.  No 
land  could  be  long  inhabited  and  cultivated  suc- 
cessfully were  it  entirely  barren  of  birds.  They 
serve  nature  and  promote,  by  their  activities,  the 
ends  of  life,  and  in  song  give  praise  to  the  joys  of 
living.  The  bright  religion  of  healthy-mindedness 
is  their  great  contribution  to  the  world,  by  example 
and  by  the  joy  they  bring  in  their  music. 

The  gift  of  song  varies  as  widely  in  birds  as  it 
does  in  human  beings;  each  species  has  its  range 
of  voice  and  definite  compass,  and  each  sings  its 
own  individual  notes  in  its  own  peculiar  manner. 
A  number  of  birds  have  melodies  which  their  tribe 
has  agreed  is  "their"  song,  and  they  sing  it  only; 
while  others,  like  the  mocking-bird,  canary,  bull- 
finch, etc.,  learn  to  sing  many  songs  of  varied 
lengths  and  significance. 

Environment  undoubtedly  has  great  influence 
upon  the  musical  talent  and  accomplishments  of 
birds,  just  as  among  human  beings.  Especially  is 
this  true  of  their  musical  environment,  for  birds  not 
only  possess  instruments  upon  which  to  perform, 
but  a  rare  talent  and  adaptability  for  learning 


90      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

beautiful  sounds  and  notes  to  weave  into  their  pro- 
ductions. This  is  most  easily  observed  in  caged 
birds,  for  a  young  canary  raised  near  a  mocking- 
bird will  have  many  notes  uncommon  among  his 
tribe. 

This  fact  has  been  turned  to  advantage  by  bird- 
fanciers  the  world  over,  and  young  birds  are  given 
especial  advantages  in  order  to  improve  their  musi- 
cal ear  and  technique.  The  finest  singers  are  pro- 
cured, and  these  are  kept  near  the  young  birds.  As 
the  latter  develop  their  own  voices  they  try  to  join 
in  the  melody  of  their  teachers,  and  after  long  ef- 
fort succeed  in  learning  their  methods  and  execu- 
tion, and  often  acquire  a  certain  similarity  in  qual- 
ity of  tone.  In  this  way  the  musical  standard  of 
caged  birds  is  being  steadily  improved.  It  is  noth- 
ing more  than  a  system  of  music  schools  and  in- 
struction, made  possible  by  the  native  talent  of  the 
bird  mind. 

In  the  wild  wood  every  bird  has  a  certain  amount 
of  instruction  given  him  by  his  parents,  and  his 
early  environment  completes  his  musical  education. 
Like  a  musician  in  the  human  world,  he  learns  all 
his  teachers  can  give  him,  and  then  goes  forth  to 
add  to  his  skill  by  practice  and  observation  of 
others. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  scenery  has  an  effect  upon 


PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS       01 

the  songs  of  birds,  and  each  locality  has  its  par- 
ticular type  of  music.  The  mocking-bird  of  Flor- 
ida, for  instance,  sings  in  quite  a  different  way 
from  his  Texas  brother,  although  both  are  musi- 
cians of  great  talent,  and  neither  might  be  said  to 
be  inferior  to  the  other  in  either  quality  of  note  or 
execution. 

Birds  sing  their  loudest  and  sweetest  during  the 
mating  season.  Every  bird  must  have  some  special 
art  to  rely  on  in  his  love-making,  and  music  is  used 
more  than  any  other  resource.  The  true  bird- 
musician  pours  out  his  heart  in  passionate  melody 
to  the  object  of  his  adoration,  and  any  sign  of  fa- 
vour from  her  brings  forth  still  greater  efforts. 

The  most  fascinating  feature  of  bird-song  is  the 
mimicry  so  common  to  many  bird  musicians. 
Among  the  mimics  who  are  professional  vocalists 
the  mocking-bird  has  the  first  place.  He  mimics 
every  sound  imaginable,  from  that  of  running  wa- 
ter to  the  most  difficult  and  complicated  notes  of 
the  flute.  In  many  cases  he  improves  upon  the 
sound  he  imitates.  A  mocking-bird  can  sing  the 
cardinal's  song  far  better  than  the  cardinal  can 
sing  it,  and  give  the  alarm  cry  of  the  sparrow  with 
more  effect  than  its  originator. 

Some  mimics  appear  to  repeat  the  notes  of  other 
birds  merely  to  increase  their  own  songs;  others. 


92      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

however,  like  the  starling,  blue- jay,  and  sedge 
warbler,  seem  to  carefully  follow  the  vocalisation 
of  other  birds  only  for  the  purpose  of  exact 
mimicry.  The  mocking-bird,  skylark,  thrush,  and 
robin  are  all  capable  of  marvellous  mimetric  repro- 
ductions in  their  singing,  a  habit  which  imparts  to 
their  performances  a  richness  and  variety  of  ex- 
pression that  is  second  only  to  our  own  imitative 
type  of  music. 

In  captivity  a  bird  seems  to  increase  its  powers 
of  mimicry.  This  may  be  due  to  the  fact  that  there 
is  less  to  attract  its  attention,  and  mimicry  becomes 
a  pleasant  way  to  while  away  the  hours ;  or  it  may  be 
only  man's  delusion,  since  only  in  captivity  can  we 
observe  birds  for  long  periods  of  time  and  at  every 
hour  of  the  day.  The  talent  of  mimicry  varies  in 
individuals  and  species  just  as  the  production  of 
song  itself  is  not  constant  even  in  a  single  family 
of  birds. 

This  fact  is  well  demonstrated  in  the  case  of 
canaries.  In  one  nest  eight  young  canaries  were 
raised  from  two  parent  birds,  and  no  two  of  the 
offspring  were  similar  in  markings,  habits,  or  dis- 
position; and  in  powers  of  song  and  mimicry  each 
had  his  own  style  and  taste.  One  mingled  to- 
gether parts  of  his  father's  song  with  notes  from 
the  mocking-bird  nearby ;  another  chose  to  borrow 


PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS        93 

from  the  song  of  the  cardinal ;  a  third  followed  the 
thrush  as  a  master;  and  each  one  is  a  singer  of  re- 
markable skill  and  value. 

The  mocking-bird  of  the  United  States  is  the 
king  of  all  songsters.  He  is  one  of  the  greatest 
attractions  of  the  Southland,  where  during  the 
spring  and  summer  the  very  atmosphere  is  filled 
with  his  exuberant  music.  His  voice  seems  to  be 
the  voice  of  orange  blossoms,  magnolias,  and  sweet- 
smelling  honeysuckles  and  roses;  and  among  them 
he  sings  joyously  day  and  night.  No  description 
of  this  wonderful  musician  can  convey  any  idea 
of  his  song.  One  might  as  well  attempt  to  describe 
a  Tetrazinni  solo  or  an  Albert  Spaulding  recital, 
as  to  try  to  give  any  impression  of  the  marvellous 
beauty  and  charm  of  the  mocking-bird's  renditions. 

The  mocking-bird  seems  to  take  little  time  for 
rest  during  the  spring  and  summer,  for  he  sings 
and  works  all  day,  and  sings  and  plays  nearly  all 
night.  He  is  so  filled  with  joy  that  he  leaps  and 
tumbles  in  the  air  as  he  sings,  like  a  clown  in  an 
opera.  Apparently  he  is  greatly  influenced  by  the 
bright  moonlight,  as  he  performs  his  most  aston- 
ishing feats  of  tumbling  and  singing  then. 

He  takes  special  delight  in  imitating  every 
sound  he  hears,  and  in  fooling  people  and  animals 
nearby ;  but,  unlike  the  chat,  he  does  it  openly.  He 


94      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

boldly  attempts  to  imitate  the  whistle  of  the  neigh- 
bour's boy,  or  the  noisy  chatter  of  the  angry  blue- 
jays.  And  then  suddenly  he  begins  a  melody  of 
such  wild  and  barbaric  feeling  that  all  the  primal 
emotions  of  the  human  race  seem  to  be  recorded, 
and  finally  he  ends  with  a  song  that  has  the  charm 
of  a  Chopin  Nocturne.  There  is  an  emotional 
power  in  the  mocker's  night  song  which  is  inde- 
scribable in  musical  terminology.  One  cannot 
describe  the  motives,  phrases  and  periods  in  telling 
of  the  weird  and  eerie  cascade  notes  of  this  chief 
of  songsters. 

No  bird  is  so  famed  for  its  singing  as  the  night- 
ingale, and  all  the  praise  it  has  received  is  well 
merited.  Poets  of  all  ages  have  paid  tuneful 
tribute  to  its  art,  for  no  one  can  deny  its  right  to 
a  prominent  place  among  the  world's  greatest 
song  birds.  There  is  an  exquisite  sweetness  in  its 
tones  so  remarkably  appealing  that  it  has  led  many 
persons  into  the  error  of  calling  the  nightingale 
melancholy,  when  the  contrary  is  really  true.  Ex- 
ultation is  evident  in  the  quality  of  its  song,  and  its 
rendition  betrays  no  sign  of  gloom.  The  nightin- 
gale is  possessed  of  wonderful  execution  and  in- 
terpretative skill.  Besides  the  "full-throated  ease" 
and  excellence  of  its  song,  it  has  a  most  splendid 
use  of  the  crescendo,  which  it  deftly  employs  on  a 


PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS        95 

single  note  with  an  artistic  perfection  that  rivals 
the  highest  human  skill. 

The  music  of  the  nightingale  has  become  one 
of  the  staple  subjects  in  European  literature,  and 
this  recognition  of  its  art  is  most  befitting.  For 
considering  the  long  time  that  this  bird  has  been  a 
neighbour  to  man,  it  has  surely  given  more  joy  to 
the  world  than  any  other  bird  musician.  The  sweet 
song  of  the  nightingale  has  contributed  largely  to- 
ward awakening  in  the  heart  of  man  that  sympathy 
with  wild  things  that  harm  him  not,  which  is  the 
bright  jewel  of  the  present  age. 

The  song  of  the  thrush  possesses  a  charm  pe- 
culiar to  itself,  having  a  vigour  and  clearness  which 
add  to  its  great  variety  of  tone.  At  morning  and 
evening  his  clear  joyous  notes  may  be  heard  in  a 
great  rush  of  triumphant  melody — a  veritable  tor- 
rent of  song.  The  thrush  also  possesses  the  power 
of  mimicry,  and  his  art  profits  by  his  borrowing 
the  calls  and  notes  of  his  bird-neighbours.  One  ob- 
server declares  that  thirty  different  birds  contrib- 
uted to  the  repertoire  of  a  certain  thrush,  and  of 
these  sounds,  twenty  were  exactly  reproduced. 

By  this  adaptability  the  little  brown  musician, 
like  many  human  composers,  takes  the  material 
that  is  at  hand  and  weaves  its  song,  aided  in  his  ex- 
pression by  its  variety.  The  chiff-chaff,  the  wood- 


96      THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

warbler,  the  wryneck,  the  butcher-bird,  the  nut- 
hatch, the  goldfinch,  chaffinch,  and  even  the  night- 
ingale, have  all  furnished  him  with  notes,  bars,  and 
cadences. 

The  great  thrush  family  gives  us  three  musicians 
of  extraordinary  ability:  the  wood  thrush,  the 
veery,  and  the  hermit  thrush.  They  differ  from 
each  other  in  song,  and  from  all  other  birds  in  many 
ways.  With  them  habitat — environment — also 
causes  variations,  as  with  other  birds  and  with  man. 

The  songs  of  these  birds  are  held  dear  by  those 
who  hear  them  in  their  native  haunts.  Lynn  Tew 
Sprague  says:  "There  is  absolutely  no  tone  in 
nature — no  human  voice,  no  vibration  of  string,  or 
wood,  or  metal — to  compare  in  mellow  richness  and 
sonority  with  the  thrush's  note.  .  .  .  'Tonal  qual- 
ity* is  a  phrase  we  use,  but  when  listening  to  one 
of  these  birds  we  are  for  the  first  time  aware  of 
the  full  difference  in  the  mystical  merging  of  those 
ghostly  groups  of  subconscious  harmonies,  which 
science  tells  us  accompany  every  tone,  so  that  each 
note  is  really  a  harmony.  The  voices  of  these  three 
birds  resemble  each  other  in  quality,  yet  each  pos- 
sesses a  subtle  tonal  colour  and  their  songs  are 
different  in  pitch  and  measure  .  .  .  the  bewilder- 
ing cadenzas  of  the  veery,  the  serene  largo  of  the 
wood  thrush,  the  more  joyous  adagio  of  the  hermit 


are  to  certain  natures  the  consummation  of  song." 
Further  than  this  it  is  difficult  to  describe  the 
music  of  the  thrush.  Thoreau  pays  a  delightful 
tribute  to  the  wood  thrush,  and  a  poetic  description 
of  its  song:  "Some  birds  are  poets  and  sing  all 
summer.  I  am  reminded  of  this  while  we  rest  in 
the  shade  and  listen  to  a  wood  thrush  now,  just  be- 
fore sunset.  .  .  .  The  wood  thrush's  is  no  opera 
music.  It  is  not  so  much  the  composition  as  the 
strain,  the  tone,  that  interests  us — cool  bars  of  mel- 
ody from  the  atmosphere  of  everlasting  morning 
and  evening.  It  is  the  quality  of  the  sound,  not 
the  sequence.  In  the  pewee's  note  there  is  some 
sultriness,  but  in  the  thrush's,  though  heard  at 
noon,  there  is  the  liquid  coolness  of  things  drawn 
from  the  bottom  of  springs.  The  thrush's  alone 
declares  the  immortal  wealth  and  vigour  that  is  in 
the  forest.  Here  is  a  bird  in  whose  strain  the  story 
is  told.  Whenever  a  man  hears  it,  he  is  young  and 
nature  is  in  her  spring;  whenever  he  hears  it,  there 
is  a  new  world  and  one  country,  and  the  gates  of 
heaven  are  not  shut  against  him." 

The  skylark  is  a  favourite  songster  of  Europe, 
and  many  poets  have  sung  his  praises.  He  is  es- 
pecially loved  for  the  bright  philosophy  which  he 
teaches.  Every  morning  as  the  sun  rises  he 
springs,  singing  exultantly,  from  his  nest  on  the 


98      THE  HUMAX  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

ground  and,  soaring  and  singing,  mounts  higher 
and  higher  to  greet  the  day  with  joyous  melody. 

In  the  warbler  family  are  many  singers,  and  in 
some  respects  they  resemble  each  other  in  their 
music.  The  sedge-warbler,  however,  is  the  chief 
among  them.  His  great  power  is  mimicry,  and 
there  is  hardly  any  limit  to  the  sounds  he  can  re- 
produce. His  song  is  a  medley  of  many  and  vary- 
ing strains;  and  in  the  hush  of  twilight  he  seems 
like  a  tiny  elfin  troubadour  recounting  the  deeds 
of  the  day.  Composed  of  many  tones  in  rapid  suc- 
cession, with  changing  lights  and  shades  and  ca- 
dences, the  song  seems  so  well  developed  that  one 
might  suspect  the  little  musician  of  arranging  the 
material  beforehand. 

The  starling  is  called  by  some  a  songster,  and 
if  effort  entitles  him  to  consideration,  he  is  a  de- 
serving musician.  Being  a  most  talented  mimic 
he  offers  as  a  song  all  his  repertoire  of  sounds  in 
the  best  way  he  can,  interspersing  them  with  chirps 
and  whistlings.  Perhaps  in  time  he  will  become 
a  master  musician,  for  he  seems  a  songster  in  the 
making. 

In  the  multitude  of  nature's  choristers  there  are 
many  singers  of  rare  merit  and  ability,  but  space 
will  not  allow  even  an  enumeration  of  them  here. 
The  flute-like  notes  of  the  blackbird,  the  whistling 


PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS        99 

song  of  the  cardinal,  the  lively  music  of  the  robin, 
the  silvery  song  of  the  tree-pipit,  the  gentle  cooing 
of  the  dove — these  and  a  thousand  other  less  fa- 
miliar melodies  combine  to  give  music  to  the  woods 
and  fields  and  all  who  dwell  therein. 

Not  only  do  birds  sing  with  great  artistic  ability, 
and  display  exceptional  talent  in  learning  from 
others,  but  many  of  them  are  equipped  by  nature 
with  instruments  which  correspond  to  those  of  a 
man-made  orchestra.  They  have  wind  and  percus- 
sion instruments,  and  we  are  forced  to  admit  that 
they  knew  and  used  these  two  principles  of  sound 
production  before  man  became  aware  of  them. 

Many  species  of  cranes  and  swans  possess  a  pe- 
culiarity that  is  most  interesting.  The  famous 
trumpeter  swan  is  the  best  known  of  this  group, 
and  his  name  is  quite  appropriate.  The  male  birds 
have  wind-pipes  of  great  length  coiled  in  a  long 
pocket  next  to  the  keel  of  their  breast-bones,  and 
these  make  a  remarkable  difference  in  their  voices. 
It  gives  them  a  resonance  that  is  most  pleasing; 
they  are  playing  on  the  French  horns  that  nature 
gave  them. 

This  elongated  wind-pipe  is  not  confined  to  these 
birds  only,  but  certain  species  of  the  passerine 
birds,  cousins  to  the  bird  of  paradise,  curassows, 
geese,  anseranas,  and  painted  snipes,  also  possess 


100    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

this  sounding-box  in  their  throats.  In  the  latter 
case,  however,  unlike  the  former  group,  the  extra 
coils  of  the  wind-pipe  are  stored  near  the  skin  of 
the  breast,  and  with  no  protective  layer  of  breast 
muscles  as  one  might  be  led  to  expect. 

The  emu  in  both  sexes  has  a  wind-pipe  equipped 
with  an  air  pouch  which  makes  it  possible  to  give 
forth  a  rolling  sound  like  a  very  large  drum. 
There  is  a  hole  in  the  outer  wall  of  the  wind-pipe 
which  allows  the  inner  wall  to  protrude  when  filled 
with  air,  forming  itself  into  a  sac  for  resonance, 
which  somehow  enables  the  bird  to  make  its  drum- 
ming sound.  The  ostrich  roars  so  much  like  a  lion 
that  even  the  Hottentots  are  often  deceived  by  it. 

The  drumming  sound  is  more  or  less  common 
among  the  denizens  of  the  wild  wood.  The  wood- 
peckers peck  tattoos  in  many  keys  upon  the 
branches,  and  if  the  tree  is  dead,  the  sound  is  not 
unlike  a  small  kettle-drum.  The  ruffled  grouse, 
and  others  among  the  pheasant  family,  are  drum- 
mers of  great  skill.  Indeed  they  employ  this 
means  for  signalling  at  a  distance  just  as  soldiers 
have  done  for  a  long  time.  One  is  led  to  wonder- 
ing if  man  did  not  get  the  use  of  the  drum  from  ob- 
serving the  sound  among  birds.  These  feathered 
drummers  make  the  noise  by  striking  their  wings 
against  their  bodies  in  such  a  way  as  to  catch  a 


PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS      101 

little  air  under  them,  the  principle  being  the  same 
as  in  clapping  the  hands. 

Both  sexes  of  the  common  snipe  and  other 
species  make  a  "drumming"  or  "bleating"  sound  at 
certain  seasons  that  is  very  unusual.  From  a  great 
height  these  birds  suddenly  descend  with  increased 
speed  and  expanded  tail.  The  outer  feathers  of 
the  tail  are  held  at  right  angles  to  the  body,  and 
being  strong  and  peculiarly  curved,  with  a  wider 
web  for  resisting  the  air,  a  sound  like  that  of  a  drum 
beaten  lightly  and  with  marvellous  rapidity  is  pro- 
duced. 

Manakins  of  South  America  make  music  in  a 
mysterious  way  while  on  the  wing.  One  of  them, 
the  black  penelope  of  Guatemala,  has  been  often 
observed  in  this  feat.  While  flying  he  suddenly 
plunges  toward  the  earth  with  outspread  wings, 
and  during  this  descent  the  peculiar  crashing  sound 
is  heard.  It  is  somehow  produced  by  the  strange 
formation  of  the  quills,  but  the  manner  is  not  ex- 
actly known. 

The  white  stork  is  possessed  of  a  Castanet  in  its 
bill.  By  throwing  its  head  far  back  till  its  beak 
almost  touches  its  back,  the  jaws  are  made  to  rat- 
tle rapidly.  This  can  be  continued  as  the  bird 
slowly  brings  its  head  up  in  a  half -circle  and  down 
to  the  ground.  Often  a  number  of  these  stately 


102     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

musicians  join  in  a  regular  beat  that  is  very  pleas- 
ant to  hear. 

The  bell-bird  of  Brazil,  also  called  the  naked- 
throated  cotinga,  makes  a  most  wonderful  music, 
suggestive  of  cathedral  chimes.  When  its  notes 
are  repeated  slowly  they  have  a  bell-like  quality 
that  is  marvellous  to  hear;  in  quick  succession  they 
sound  like  the  ringing  blows  of  a  hammer  on  an 
anvil.  This  peculiarity  has  won  for  him  the  name 
of  ferreiro,  or  smith,  among  the  Portuguese. 

This  strange  bird  seems  to  guess  the  power  of 
his  music,  and  with  the  feeling  of  a  true  artist  he 
delights  in  choosing  befitting  occasions  for  his  most 
impressive  performances.  Often  he  perches  on  a 
high  bare  tree,  above  gun-shot  range,  and  ruffling 
his  beautiful  white  plumage  he  sends  his  church-like 
notes  resounding  over  hill  and  dale.  There  is 
scant  wonder  that  many  legends  have  grown  up 
among  the  aborigines  about  him. 

All  bird  musicians  seem  to  feel  the  artistic  fit- 
ness of  their  music  to  the  surroundings,  the  season, 
and  the  weather,  and  with  astonishing  fidelity  tone 
it  to  the  prevailing  shade.  The  cardinal  sings  a 
pensive  song  at  twilight,  the  robin  gives  a  few 
notes  of  meditative  quality  for  his  good-night  song 
in  the  hush  of  evening,  the  skylark  springs  up 
singing  to  meet  the  first  bright  rays  of  the  rising 


PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS      103 

sun.  The  poet  who  said,  "I  would  be  one  with  na- 
ture," recognised  the  real  source  of  inspiration. 
And  birds,  being  themselves  in  form  and  voice  the 
essence  of  nature's  joy  and  beauty,  are  possessed 
of  that  highest  contact  with  the  fountain  of  music 
and  poetry,  and  all  other  esthetic  aspirations.  They 
are  in  body  a  part  of  nature,  and  their  voices  are 
in  tune  with  nature's  manifold  harmonies.  Their 
music  is  the  expression  of  landscape,  sky,  and  sea- 
son, and  all  the  emotions  of  man  and  bird  that  are 
affected  by  them. 

Birds  possess  that  same  desire  for  self-expres- 
sion that  has  led  man  to  music  and  other  arts.  The 
unheard  music  of  the  soul  is  striving  for  form  and 
expression  in  the  arts  of  man,  and  it  is  equally  true 
of  birds.  In  the  depths  of  their  little  beings  they 
conceive  beautiful  structures  of  sound  and  form 
and  colour  at  least  worthy  to  be  classed  with  the 
dreams  of  human  esthetes. 

In  music  they  develop  in  their  throats  or  wings 
the  instruments  of  their  art,  and  acquire  their  skill 
by  practice  and  continual  study.  Like  true  musi- 
cians they  learn  from  every  source,  and  blend  all 
sounds  that  please  them  into  songs  of  ravishing 
beauty  and  sweetness.  To  their  gifted  ears  there 
is  a  beauty  in  every  sound,  and  in  reproducing  it 
they  eliminate  the  elements  of  discord,  and  make 


104    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

their  songs  the  pure  distilled  sweetness  of  nature's 
many  voices.  Their  productions  are  sonatas  of 
the  wild  wood. 

It  is  strange  indeed  that  so  few  human  beings 
are  yet  aware  of  the  divine  psalmistry  of  the  birds. 
We  pay  large  sums  to  hear  concert  music,  and  we 
never  stop  to  think  that  the  pieces  are  only  the 
musician's  ideal  of  some  aspect  of  nature.  In  his 
complex  civilisation  man  has  grown  away  from  ac- 
cord with  the  world  of  wild  things,  and  he  cannot 
give  its  essence  so  truly  as  his  feathered  brother  of 
the  air.  Birds  render  in  their  music  the  glorious 
spirit  of  the  universe  as  it  really  is,  and  will  ever 
be. 

The  indifference  of  a  large  part  of  the  human 
race  to  the  natural  beauty  that  is  everywhere  re- 
minds one  of  Stevenson's  apt  words:  "If  God 
would  charge  so  much  a  head  for  sunsets,  or  send 
a  drum  around  at  the  blossoming  of  the  hawthorns, 
perhaps  then  man  would  better  appreciate  and 
adore  what  has  been  his  neglected  heritage  since 
first  his  race  began." 

Appreciation  in  the  sense  of  public  recognition 
is  largely  a  matter  of  education,  and  it  is  most  grati- 
fying to  note  the  present  wonderful  advance  in  the 
appreciation  of  the  beauties  of  nature.  And  with 
our  better  understanding  of  the  tiny  intellects  of 


PROFESSIONAL  MUSICIANS      105 

our  bird  neighbours  will  come  a  warmer  sympathy 
and  a  deeper  and  truer  love  of  them  and  their  ac- 
complishments. When  the  soul  enters  into  our 
relations  with  our  fellow  mortals  of  other  species 
there  comes  an  esthetic  insight  into  their  lives,  emo- 
tions and  thought  processes  that  cold  science  can 
never  attain.  And  from  the  present  bright  outlook 
let  us  hope  that  that  happy  time  may  some  day 
come,  when  man  will  no  longer  search  for  beauty 
far  away  and  overlook  the  marvels  that  surround 
him  and  strive  for  his  appreciation. 


CHAPTER  VII 

GIANT  SOAD-MAKERS 

.  .  .  Where  fly 

The  happy  birds,  that  change  their  sky 
To  build  and  brood;  that  live  their  lives 
From  land  to  land.  .  .  . 

— Tennyson. 

BIRDS  have  for  unknown  ages  been  the  mak- 
ers and  builders  of  roads  through  forests, 
over  mountains,  around  dangerous  hunting 
grounds,  and  to  places  of  shelter  and  water  holes. 
They  seem  to  demand  absolute  respect  and  legal 
recognition  for  distinct  boundaries  and  roads  which 
are  so  necessary  in  their  civilisation.  They  unite 
for  purposes  of  policing  and  defending  their  rights 
against  intruders  and  enemies ;  and  when  an  enemy 
is  encountered  on  their  runs  a  desperate  battle 
ensues  for  the  right  of  way,  and  to  the  victor  re- 
mains the  privilege  of  travelling  unmolested  on  the 
highway. 

All  birds  travel  in  some  way,  and  those  that  can- 
not fly  must  walk,  and  walking  implies  roads. 
Strangely  enough  the  big  birds  are  invariably  road- 

106 


GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS  107 

makers.  There  has  been  an  epoch  of  big  birds  just 
as  of  big  mollusks,  reptiles,  mammalian  mammoths 
and  mastodons.  And  the  greatest  accomplishment 
of  these  feathered  giants  was  their  skill  and  knowl- 
edge of  road-making. 

There  are  only  a  few  of  the  large  birds  left  to- 
day, and  they  are  the  ostriches,  chiefly  of  Africa 
and  Arabia;  the  rheas  of  South  America;  the  cas- 
sowaries of  Papau  and  North  Australia;  and  the 
emus  of  Australia.  All  the  larger  birds  are  but 
solitary  survivors  of  a  mighty  concourse  of  feath- 
ered giants  which  once  covered  almost  the  entire 
earth.  Some  members  of  these  extinct  species 
were  as  much  larger  than  the  ostrich  as  the  ostrich 
now  exceeds  the  rhea  in  size. 

The  ostriches  are  the  largest  of  existing  birds. 
They  might  be  aptly  termed  the  giants  of  the  bird 
kingdom  in  its  present  state.  It  is  not  uncommon 
to  find  a  full-grown  individual  eight  feet  in  height 
and  weighing  three  hundred  pounds.  These 
strange  giants  have  several  marked  characteristics, 
and  chief  among  these  is  the  fact  that  they  alone 
have  but  two  toes.  Their  heads  are  relatively 
small,  and  their  necks  are  strikingly  long;  while 
their  wings  are  small  and  covered  with  soft  plumes. 

Probably  because  of  their  habitat  and  marvel- 
lous endurance,  ostriches  are  associated  with  the 


camel,  and  it  is  not  an  inept  comparison.  They  are 
the  best  known  and  most  powerful  denizens  of  the 
desert,  and  they  possess  many  remarkable  features 
to  aid  them  in  their  environment.  Ostriches  have 
appealed  to  the  imagination  since  the  very  earliest 
times.  This  fact  is  borne  out  not  only  by  monu- 
ments and  inscriptions  but  by  the  works  of  Aris- 
totle, Pliny,  and  Xenophon,  as  well  as  by  the  scrip- 
tures. 

Pliny,  as  did  Aristotle,  believed  that  the  bird 
was  part  bird  and  part  quadruped.  lie  says: 
"This  bird  exceeds  in  height  a  man  sitting  on 
horseback,  can  surpass  him  in  swiftness,  as  wings 
have  been  given  it  to  aid  it  in  running;  in  other  re- 
spects ostriches  cannot  be  considered  as  birds,  and 
do  not  raise  themselves  from  the  ground.  They 
have  cloven  talons,  very  similar  to  the  hoof  of  the 
stag;  with  these  they  fight,  and  they  also  employ 
them  for  seizing  stones  for  the  purpose  of  throw- 
ing at  those  who  pursue  them." 

Giant  birds,  without  exception,  both  living  and 
extinct,  are  incapable  of  flight,  and  they  have  not 
that  strong  bridge-like  keel  which  is  found  on  the 
breast-bone  of  a  goose,  and  which  is  so  essential 
as  a  support  for  the  powerful  muscles  of  the  wings. 
Whether  this  incapacity  for  flight  has  always  been 
true  of  the  giant  birds,  or  whether  it  has  come  about 


THE  GREAT  AUK,  ONE  OF  THE  EXTINCT  GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS 


GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS  109 

by  disuse,  is  a  question  which  has  long  been  de- 
bated, and  which  is  still  undecided.  It  must  be  re- 
membered, however,  that  all  birds  unable  to  fly  are 
not  classed  with  the  giant  birds;  nor  are  all  flying 
birds  excluded. 

We  have,  for  example,  a  huge  pigeon,  the  dodo, 
now  extinct,  on  the  Island  of  Mauritius,  which  evi- 
dently lost  the  power  of  flight.  The  deposits  of 
New  Zealand  also  reveal  the  remains  of  a  large 
goose  and  rail  that  have  perished  in  the  same  way. 
Before  these  birds  became  extinct  they  lost  the 
power  of  flight.  They  differed  in  many  ways  from 
the  giant  birds.  Pycraft  in  speaking  of  the  dodo 
said:  "This  combination  of  great  stature  with 
flightlessness  was  the  outcome  of  an  abundance  of 
food,  and  the  freedom  from  all  necessity  of  pro- 
curing this  food  by  flight,  or  by  resorting  to  the 
use  of  the  wings  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  ene- 
mies. The  atrophy  of  wing  had  proceeded  so  far 
when  man  entered  into  this  paradise  that  it  had  be- 
come so  reduced  as  to  be  inferior  in  size  to  that  of 
our  common  rock  pigeon.  Thus  pinioned,  it  was 
at  the  mercy  of  the  invader;  who,  however,  accom- 
plished the  work  of  destruction  unwittingly,  and 
this  by  the  introduction  of  pigs  which  devoured  the 
eggs  and  young."  Thus  we  are  reminded  by 
Belloc  of  the  sad  fate  of  the  dodo: 


110 

"The  dodo  used  to  walk  around, 

And  take  the  sun  and  air. 
The  sun  yet  warms  his  native  ground — 
The  dodo  is  not  there! 

That  voice  which  used  to  squawk  and  squeak 

Is  now  forever  dumb — 
Yet  you  may  see  his  bones  and  beak 

All  in  the  Mu-se-um." 

Judging  from  the  general  structure  of  their  leg 
bones,  their  shape,  size  and  formation,  most  of  the 
giant  birds  were  great  walkers  and  road-makers. 
Perhaps  the  most  important  of  the  extinet  giants 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  scientific  world 
were  the  moas  of  New  Zealand.  When  the 
Europeans  first  occupied  this  country,  over  half  a 
century  ago,  they  found  there  great  numbers  of 
bones  of  gigantic  birds  strewn  over  the  plains, 
buried  in  the  river  beds,  lakes,  and  swamps,  and  in 
the  caves. 

In  the  swamps  near  Canterbury,  especially  Glen- 
mark,  these  bones  were  plentiful.  In  caves  there 
have  been  found  a  number  of  moa  skeletons  with 
the  skin  and  feathers  still  adhering  to  them.  The 
Maoris  well  know  that  these  bones  and  feathers  be- 
long to  gigantic  birds,  yet  it  is  possible  that  their 
ancestors  never  saw  them.  The  best  scholars  be- 
lieve that  these  unfortunate  birds  were  killed  by 


GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS  111 

the  race  that  inhabited  New  Zealand  before  the 
Maoris.  There  is  no  question  about  the  fact  that 
the  moas  existed  up  until  a  very  late  era.  Even 
the  big  roads  made  by  them  on  the  sides  of  the 
hills  remained  intact  until  a  few  years  ago.  Some 
scholars  go  so  far  as  to  assert  that  these  helpless 
road-makers  were  very  intelligent,  and  stationed 
sentinels  at  certain  crossroads  to  warn  all  bird 
travellers  of  the  blood-thirsty  enemies. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  that  at  the  time  the 
dodo  thrived  in  the  Island  of  Mauritius,  the  neigh- 
bouring Island  of  Rodriguez  had  as  one  of  its  in- 
habitants a  big  pigeon  known  as  the  solitaire, 
somewhat  similar  to  the  dodo. 

In  Samoa,  in  the  South  Pacific,  lives  a  toothed 
pigeon  which  is  but  a  dodo  on  a  miniature  scale. 
This  wise  little  bird  has  been  forced  to  keep  up  his 
flight  of  recent  years  by  the  ever-presence  of  ene- 
mies. Previous  to  the  introduction  into  the  archi- 
pelago of  rats  and  mice,  which  threatened  the  bird's 
very  existence  by  eating  its  eggs,  the  solitaire  spent 
most  of  its  life  on  the  ground.  But  since  the  ar- 
rival of  rats  and  man,  this  bird  dwells  in  the  high 
tree-tops,  and  it  will  avoid  the  unhappy  fate  of 
the  dodo,  by  thus  changing  its  modes  of  life  to  fit 
the  new  conditions,  and  to  annul  the  new  dangers. 

A  race  of  gigantic  birds  can  thrive  and  multiply 


112    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

only  in  the  absence  of  big  terrestrial  competitors, 
mammalian  or  reptilian.  They  must  also  have 
plenty  of  land  to  roam  over,  especially  isolated 
lands,  which  have  no  connection  with  big  contin- 
ents. The  largest  birds — which  rank  in  size  with 
the  largest  animals — have  only  been  developed  in 
two  such  places:  the  moa  of  New  Zealand,  and 
the  strange,  oddly  shaped  elephant-bird  (Aepyor- 
nis  maximus,  signifying  "the  bird  as  big  as  a  moun- 
tain") in  the  island  forests  of  Madagascar. 

The  first  discovery  of  the  elephant-bird  is  most 
interesting.  Only  a  few  years  after  the  discovery 
of  the  moas  in  New  Zealand  some  natives  from 
the  interior  of  Mauritius,  for  the  purpose  of  buying 
rum,  brought  several  large  vessels.  These  were 
nothing  more  than  enormous  egg-shells.  They 
were  soon  sent  to  Paris  by  naturalists  and  attracted 
widespread  attention,  and,  as  Stejneger  says, 
"brought  to  mind  the  old  story  of  the  famous  Vene- 
tian traveller,  Marco  Polo,  who  located  the  rue  or 
roc,  the  giant  bird  of  Arabian  tales,  .upon  Mada- 
gascar." In  a  short  time  Professor  Bianconi  tried 
to  prove  that  Polo  might  have  heard  of  these  enor- 
mous eggs,  and  the  birds  that  laid  them.  It  is  lit- 
tle wonder  that  every  one  was  astonished  at  the  size 
of  them  I  They  had  a  capacity  of  two  gallons,  and 


GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS  113 

measured  three  feet  in  their  larger  circumference 
and  two  and  a  half  feet  in  girth. 

The  natives  of  Madagascar  believe  that  some  of 
these  elephant-birds  are  still  living  in  the  interior 
of  the  island.  However,  it  is  almost  a  certainty 
that  none  have  existed  there  for  more  than  two 
hundred  years.  No  one  knows  how  they  were  ex- 
terminated, but  it  is  most  probable  that  it  was  by 
the  hand  of  man. 

The  elephant-birds  were  road-makers,  and  usu- 
ally lived  inland,  but  made  roads  or  runs  to  the 
coast  country  during  the  breeding  season.  The 
noted  explorer,  Mr.  J.  T.  Last,  says:  "During 
all  my  explorations,  though  I  have  found  the  bird's 
bones  a  long  way  inland,  I  have  never  seen  any 
fragments  of  eggs  either  with  them  or  inland  any- 
where. Everywhere  along  the  south  and  south- 
west coast  fragments  are  to  be  found  in  abundance, 
especially  on  the  hillsides  about  St.  Augustin's 
Bay.  Bushels  of  broken  egg-shell  could  be  gath- 
ered in  this  district  with  but  little  trouble.  From 
this  I  judge  that  the  birds  used  to  live  generally  in 
the  more  inland  parts  of  south-central  Madagas- 
car and  at  certain  seasons  came  to  the  coast  to  lay 
their  eggs,  after  which  they  betook  themselves 
again  to  their  inland  homes." 

Perhaps  the  nearest  allies  of  the  moas  are  the 


114    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

kiwis,  or  wingless  birds  of  New  Zealand.  They 
have  compact,  rounded  bodies,  with  small  heads, 
short  necks,  and  long  slender  bills,  slightly  curved, 
with  slit-like  nostrils  near  the  end.  These  are  the 
only  birds  known  to  have  nostrils.  Their  toes  have 
long,  strong  claws,  while  their  plumage  is  hair-like. 
And  while  they  have  no  externally  visible  wings, 
yet  underneath  the  skin  are  rudimentary  wing- 
bones.  Their  tails  are  concealed  and  there  are  no 
tailfeathers.  They  are  nocturnal  in  their  habits, 
and  when  disturbed  they  grunt  almost  like  pigs. 
Their  powerful  legs  and  feet  are  used  for  kicking, 
and  woe  unto  him  who  disturbs  their  nests.  Their 
eggs  are  enormously  large  for  the  size  of  the  birds. 

Turkeys  have  been  famed  for  their  knowledge 
of  roads  since  the  time  of  Montezuma,  the  haughty, 
dignified,  nature-loving  monarch  of  the  Aztecs, 
who  possessed  one  of  the  largest  wild  zoological 
gardens  known  to  history.  Here  he  had  repre- 
sentatives of  practically  all  the  animals  and  birds 
of  the  country  over  which  he  ruled ;  there  were  also 
many  birds  brought  from  other  parts  of  the  world 
to  his  "Noah's  Garden."  Among  these  were  all 
known  varieties  of  turkeys;  the  Mexican  wild  tur- 
key being  his  favourite. 

While  the  turkey  is  not  wingless,  and  cannot 
compare  in  size  to  the  giants  of  many  species  of 


\ 


THE  PARTRIDGE,  A  ROAD  BUILDER  OF  CALIFORNIA 


GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS  115 

birds  now  extinct  or  nearly  so,  it  is  still  the  largest 
and  most  powerful  bird  of  North  America,  and 
has  a  right  to  consideration  for  this  reason.  It  is 
the  ancestor  of  our  common  tame  turkey,  having 
been  domesticated  for  many  ages;  in  fact,  it  had 
this  name  given  to  it  in  England  as  far  back  as 
1541,  when  it  was  supposed  to  have  been  brought 
from  Turkey.  At  the  period  of  the  Spanish  con- 
quest, the  turkey  was  the  commonest  bird  of  Mex- 
ico. It  was  introduced  into  Europe  either  from 
Spain  or  from  the  West  Indies. 

It  is  due  to  their  human-like  instinct  of  roadmak- 
ing,  and  their  respect  for  territory  that  the  com- 
mon wild  turkeys  are  still  plentiful  in  some  parts 
of  America.  And  no  human  mother  has  greater 
affection  for  her  babies  than  does  this  bird  of  the 
wild  woods  and  the  prairies.  From  the  moment 
they  have  hatched  from  the  eggs,  the  fond  mother 
tenderly  watches  over  them  and  feeds  and  warns 
them.  As  soon  as  they  become  strong  enough  to 
wander  through  the  grass  and  over  the  prairies,  she 
begins  to  make  little  roads  or  runs  to  aid  them  in 
their  travels.  Their  tiny  little  red  feet  must  not 
be  pricked  by  briars  and  sand-spurs,  so  Mother 
Turkey  picks  away  all  harmful  stickers  and  forms 
a  little  road  from  her  nesting  place  to  the  nearest 
stream  of  water.  When  the  mother  bird  with  her 


116    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

young  brood  goes  forth  in  search  of  food,  which 
usually  consists  of  divers  kinds  of  insects,  berries, 
and  the  seeds  of  grasses,  she  often  depends  upon  a 
sentinel  to  give  the  alarm  in  case  of  danger.  At 
such  a  time  the  little  ones  either  flop  to  the  ground 
where  they  lie  motionless  as  dead  twigs,  or  else 
scamper  back  down  the  road  as  fast  as  their  tiny 
legs  can  carry  them  until  they  reach  the  home 
bush,  where  they  crouch  to  await  the  outcome  of 
the  danger. 

During  their  entire  chickhood,  the  mother  tur- 
key leads  her  flock,  usually  from  ten  to  fourteen 
in  number,  through  pleasant  fields,  over  hills,  down 
to  the  little  running  streams,  up  through  briar 
patches,  but  all  the  travelling  is  done — at  least  the 
most  dangerous  spots — over  Mrs.  Turkey's  own 
roads,  and  with  sentinels  ever  on  the  lookout  for 
enemies.  At  the  close  of  summer,  many  families 
of  turkeys  come  together,  and  form  one  immense 
flock.  These  gipsy-like  wanderers  travel  over 
vast  areas  of  forest  and  prairie  in  search  of  food. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  gunners  and  trappers  will  not 
utterly  destroy  these  wonderful  creatures  of  the 
wild  woods. 

Unless  disturbed  or  driven  from  their  old  homes, 
these  wild  birds  always  assemble  in  large  groups 
and  travel  to  a  new  hunting-ground  by  means  of 


GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS  117 

the  same  old  roads  they  have  travelled  in  previous 
years,  and  later  they  return  along  the  same  road. 
They  have  frequently  been  observed  to  cross  rivers 
at  the  same  place  season  after  season.  Nothing 
but  great  destruction  of  their  numbers  will  cause 
them  to  change  their  roads. 

It  may  be  that  these  wise  creatures  move  in  file 
to  and  fro  over  certain  regions  to  get  food  from 
these  places,  like  a  reaping-machine,  or  a  grazing 
sheep,  which  works  backward  and  forward  on  a 
grassy  hillside.  ,We  know  that  in  a  tobacco  field 
they  are  most  methodical.  They  take  row  after 
row  of  tobacco  and  pick  the  worms.  And  what- 
ever man's  idea  of  their  plans  and  methods  of  work, 
the  fact  remains  that  their  variety  of  roads  and 
methods  of  hunting  are  quite  in  accordance  with 
their  high  degree  of  intelligence. 

Birds,  like  mankind,  are  divided  into  the  dull, 
stay-at-home  races  and  those  that  travel  out  into 
the  great  world.  The  former  are  contented  with 
a  tiny  hut  on  a  hillside,  and  a  peach  orchard;  the 
latter,  even  for  a  brief  period  of  life,  are  con- 
tented with  nothing  less  than  a  hemisphere.  As 
long  as  mankind  did  not  monopolise  every  avail- 
able area  the  travellers  and  road-makers  among  the 
birds  could  move  more  or  less  as  they  pleased ;  but 
"of  late  years  the  settlement  and  levelling  up  of 


118    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

human  life  in  the  remoter  regions  of  the  world  has 
made  a  vast  difference  to  the  old  order  of  things." 
Many  millions  of  birds  are  killed  each  year  while 
they  are  on  their  way  to  their  breeding-grounds. 
As  a  result  many  species  are  becoming  very  scarce 
and  will  become  extinct  unless  an  international 
agreement  is  made  for  their  protection.  The  rea- 
son these  travellers  are  so  easily  bagged  is  that  they 
like  to  travel  over  the  same  route  each  year,  unless 
their  numbers  are  so  thinned  out  that  danger  of 
extinction  is  imminent. 

Pliny  tells  us  that  tens  of  thousands  of  quails 
were  captured  in  a  single  day.  These  birds  travel 
by  night,  and  sometimes,  when  the  multitudes  were 
nearing  land,  the  small  boats  were  in  danger  of 
being  upset  by  their  alighting  on  the  sails  and  rig- 
ging. They  appeared  a  few  years  ago  by  the 
myriads  on  the  islands  of  the  Greek  Archipelago. 
In  the  days  of  Moses  people  even  tired  of  quail's 
flesh  as  a  diet,  but  alas,  if  Moses  were  alive  to-day 
he  would  have  to  pay  dearly  for  a  quail! 

In  North  America  the  great  auk,  now  extinct, 
was  the  only  bird  incapable  of  flight.  Like  many 
of  his  road-making  friends,  he  lost  the  use  of  his 
wings,  and  in  his  surroundings  the  end  became  a 
certainty.  Only  as  propellers  in  the  water  were 
his  degenerate  wings  of  service  to  him.  The  home 


GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS  119 

of  this  ill-fated  bird  was  "the  North  Atlantic, 
south  of  the  Arctic  Circle,  ranging  on  the  American 
side  from  Labrador  to  Virginia,  or  perhaps  excep- 
tionally as  far  as  Florida,  where  bones  have  re- 
cently been  found  in  aboriginal  shell-heaps,  and  on 
the  European  side  from  Iceland  to  the  Bay  of  Bis- 
cay." In  1842  the  last  of  these  birds  was  killed  on 
the  American  side,  while  the  last  was  seen  in  Europe 
in  1844. 

One  of  America's  foremost  pioneer  ornithologists 
wrote  the  following  account  of  these  birds  long  be- 
fore they  were  extinct:  "Deprived  of  the  use  of 
wings,  degraded  as  it  were  from  the  feathered  ranks, 
and  almost  numbered  among  amphibious  monsters 
of  the  deep,  the  auk  seems  condemned  to  dwell  alone 
in  the  desolate  and  forsaken  regions  of  the  earth, 
yet  aided  by  all-bountiful  nature,  it  finds  means 
to  subsist,  and  triumphs  over  all  the  physical  ills 
of  its  condition.  As  a  diver  it  remains  unrivalled, 
proceeding  beneath  the  water,  its  most  natural  ele- 
ment, almost  with  the  velocity  of  many  birds 
through  the  air.  It  thus  contrives  to  vary  its  situa- 
tion with  the  season,  migrating  for  short  distances, 
like  the  finny  prey  upon  which  it  feeds.  In  the 
Faroe  Isles,  Iceland,  Greenland,  and  Newfound- 
land these  birds  dwell  and  breed  in  large  numbers." 
Since  these  words  were  written  the  sad  history  of 


120    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

the  great  auk  has  been  completed,  and  nowhere  in 
the  regions  that  once  knew  him  and  thousands  of 
his  fellows  is  there  even  a  lone  survivor  seen. 

Road-making  has  had  different  effects  upon  dif- 
ferent species  of  birds  that  have  followed  the  prac- 
tice. In  some  instances  it  has  probably  been  the 
direct  cause  of  their  extinction,  since  in  time  they 
entirely  lost  control  of  their  wings,  and  fell  help- 
less prey  to  flesh-eating  animals  and  birds.  Those 
that  depended  altogether  upon  their  own  laid-out 
routes  upon  the  ground,  and  thus  scorned  the  air, 
or  avoided  flying  because  of  the  effort  involved, 
have  suffered  to  the  utmost  of  their  capacity  for 
their  lack  of  judgment  or  laziness,  whichever  it 
might  have  been.  They  have  paid  the  extreme  pen- 
alty that  nature  exacts  from  those  of  her  children 
that  try  to  change  or  modify  her  laws. 

But  those  birds,  like  the  wild  turkeys  of  North 
America,  that  employ  road-building  only  for  pur- 
poses of  self-protection  and  caution  against  the 
dangers  that  threaten  their  little  ones  have  profited 
by  their  labours,  and  so  thrive  in  the  face  of  all 
efforts  to  exterminate  them.  For  the  wild  turkeys 
do  not  become  too  dependent  upon  the  ground; 
they  do  not  forget  how  to  fly,  and  flight  is  always  a 
resort  quickly  sought  in  time  of  extreme  danger. 
The  ground  has  its  uses  to  them  and  so  has  the  air, 


GIANT  ROAD-MAKERS  121 

and  they  are  wise  enough  not  to  neglect  either,  and 
thus  to  rob  themselves  of  important  advantages. 

For  the  purpose  of  the  preservation  of  a  species, 
the  ground  is  necessary  for  nest-building  and  in 
many  cases  for  feeding,  and  the  air  is  equally 
needed  as  an  avenue  of  flight  in  time  of  danger. 
Birds  will  never  be  able  to  cope  successfully  with 
the  many  enemies  more  powerful  than  they  that 
inhabit  the  surface  of  the  earth,  and  air  flight  is 
their  only  sure  means  of  safety.  And  when  they 
lose  that  power  they  must  inevitably,  sooner  or 
later,  be  overwhelmed  and  wiped  out,  no  matter 
how  prolific  they  may  be  in  breeding,  or  how  in- 
telligent in  matters  of  foraging. 

Only  in  such  places  surrounded  by  water  since 
time  immemorial  and  far  removed  from  continents, 
where  no  animals  of  a  flesh-eating  nature  can  reach 
them,  is  it  possible  for  birds  to  lose  their  power  of 
flight  and  yet  survive.  Giants  though  some  may 
be,  many,  if  not  all,  must  succumb  in  time.  Excep- 
tions to  this  rule  may  immediately  occur  to  the  mind 
of  the  reader,  but  considered  as  a  class,  this  deduc- 
tion is  certainly  true  of  them. 

Road-making,  like  many  other  activities  in  the 
lives  of  birds  and  men,  is  good  to  a  point ;  but  when 
carried  beyond  certain  limits,  when  its  influence 
tends  to  violate  the  immutable  laws  of  nature,  then 


122    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

it  incurs  a  penalty  that  cannot  be  averted.  In  bird 
life,  as  in  human  life,  those  inevitable  necessities 
that  existed  since  the  beginning  cannot  be  ignored 
with  impunity. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

SCAVENGEES  AND   STREET   CLEANERS 

Love  you  not,  then,  to  list  and  hear 
The  crackling  of  the  gorse  flowers  near, 
Pouring  an  orange-scented  tide 
Of  fragrance  o'er  the  desert  wide? 
To  hear  the  buzzard  whimpering  shrill. 
Hovering  above  you  high  and  still? 

—Horvitt,  "The  Honey  Buzzard." 

vultures  and  buzzards  and  kites  are  the 
*  feathered  scavengers  of  the  universe.  They 
abound  in  warm  climates,  especially  in  marshy  re- 
gions, where  a  rank  luxuriance  of  organic  life  leaves 
decaying  vegetation  and  carcasses  on  all  sides.  In 
some  countries,  notably  some  parts  of  South  Amer- 
ica, they  inhabit  the  roofs  of  the  houses  and  barns, 
walk  the  streets  in  droves,  and  cleanse  the  cities  of 
all  putrefaction.  Certain  garbage  places  are  as 
carefully  watched  by  these  scavengers  as  city  refuse 
cans  are  regularly  visited  by  professional  garbage 
collectors. 

Wherever  there  is  refuse  or  fragments  of  food 

for  these  valuable  workers,  there  they  are  found. 

123 


124    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

It  is  possible  that  their  first  attraction  to  man-made 
cities  was  the  assured  daily  feast.  And  man,  being 
thoroughly  aware  of  the  good  they  do  in  cleaning 
the  streets,  has  always  encouraged  their  presence. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  fifteenth  century  the  streets 
of  London  were  crowded  with  kites,  and  they  were 
ever  flying  around  London  Bridge;  in  the  same  way 
they  were  regular  workers  on  the  streets  of  Cairo. 
Not  being  satisfied  in  destroying  the  garbage  of 
the  streets,  they  actually  pecked  the  food  out  of  the 
hands  of  children.  But  those  days  are  over,  and 
with  the  coming  of  the  modern  sewerage-systems, 
the  food-supply  has  been  cut  off  from  these  feath- 
ered street-cleaners. 

Practically  all  scavenger  birds  are  members  of 
the  family  commonly  known  as  "birds  of  prey"; 
they  have  few  claims  to  respectability.  All  the 
buzzards  are  slow  and  sluggish  in  movement,  and 
are  famed  for  the  enormous  amount  of  food  they 
can  devour.  In  spite  of  their  unlovely  ways,  how- 
ever, they  are  very  valuable  friends  of  man.  In 
fact,  they  are  the  most  useful  of  all  the  diurnal 
birds  of  prey.  Their  crops  are  veritable  game-bags 
for  numerous  rats,  moles,  mice,  insects,  and  other 
destructive  vermin.  The  amount  they  destroy  daily 
is  incalculable.  It  is  for  this  reason,  aside  from 


SCAVENGERS  125 

their  scavenger  work,  that  they  are  so  valuable  to 
mankind. 

Among  the  best  known  of  these  useful  creatures 
is  the  turkey  buzzard.  He  is  the  commonest  known 
species  of  North  America,  and  is  found  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  coasts,  and  from  Saskatche- 
wan throughout  North  and  South  America  to  the 
Straits  of  Magellan.  The  turkey  buzzard  is  very 
abundant  west  of  the  Alleghenies — his  habitat  ex- 
tending from  Central  America  almost  to  the  Arc- 
tic regions ;  and  he  is  also  frequently  seen  in  Cuba, 
Jamaica,  Trinidad,  Honduras,  and  Guatemala,  as 
well  as  the  Falkland  Islands. 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  United  States  buz- 
zards are  not  only  plentiful  in  the  woods  and  on 
the  prairies,  but  they  come  into  the  towns  and  do 
the  scavenger  work  in  company  with  the  black  vul- 
tures. In  Kingston,  Jamaica,  they  have  become  so 
tame  that  they  roost  upon  the  housetops,  and  are 
almost  as  common  as  sparrows  in  the  streets.  They 
are  always  to  be  found  in  large  numbers  about 
ranches  in  the  West,  where  they  will  settle  down 
upon  a  dead  cow  or  sheep  around  which  wild  dogs 
and  crows  have  gathered.  Although  the  dogs  snap 
and  growl,  the  buzzards  do  not  seem  to  mind,  but 
only  step  aside  to  later  continue  their  feast. 

These  scavengers  are  famed  for  their  keen  sense 


126    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

of  sight  and  smell.  And  especially  are  the  senses 
necessary  in  the  determination  of  the  presence  of 
decaying  matter.  Over  the  "Tower  of  Silence,"  in 
India,  the  vultures  congregate  in  large  flocks,  and 
when  a  Parsee  corpse  is  deposited  on  the  planks 
they  immediately  swoop  down  through  the  open 
roof  and  devour  it. 

Their  food  usually  consists  of  various  kinds  of 
animal  matter,  although  they  are  supposed  to  suck 
eggs  and  occasionally  to  kill  the  young  of  other 
birds. 

When  they  gather  together  about  a  carcass,  a 
weird  dumb- feast  takes  place!  The  silence  is 
broken  only  occasionally  by  their  flopping,  pulling, 
and  perching;  the  busy  scuffling  of  clumsy  feet;  the 
clashing  of  big  wings;  and  above  all,  wheezy,  low, 
half -heard,  serpent-like  hisses.  This  batracho 
reptilian  language  is  all  the  buzzards  have  left  of  a 
once  respectable  voice. 

When  they  recover  from  their  long  semi-stupid 
condition,  caused  from  over-eating,  they  very  wisely 
go  through  with  a  number  of  physical  exercises  of 
their  volant  appendages.  This  accounts  for  their 
ability  to  eat  so  much. 

No  bird  is  more  awkward  on  the  ground  than 
the  turkey  buzzard,  but  while  soaring  in  the  air  he 
is  very  graceful.  When  they  are  preparing  for 


SCAVENGERS  127 

these  flights,  they  run  and  spring  from  the  ground 
with  a  quick  bound,  give  a  few  flappings  of  their 
wings,  and  shoot  upward,  for  all  the  world  like  an 
aeroplane.  When  they  reach  a  high  elevation,  they 
fly  in  wide  circles  and  sail  on  almost  horizontal 
wings,  with  tips  slightly  raised.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  they  invariably  navigate  the  air  in 
groups  of  ten  to  twenty,  never  singly. 

During  the  breeding  season  the  turkey  buzzards 
select  a  hollow  tree,  stump,  or  log,  usually  on  the 
ground,  or  near  it,  and  there,  with  no  pretensions 
of  making  a  nest,  they  lay  two  or  three  eggs.  Some- 
times there  are  three  or  more  nests  close  together. 
This  may  be  due  to  the  desirability  of  the  place 
rather  than  to  a  community  interest.  In  East 
Texas  there  are  places  commonly  referred  to  as 
"buzzards'  roosts,"  where  great  numbers  congregate 
throughout  the  entire  year.  The  superstitious  ne- 
groes of  the  river  bottoms  have  many  strange  and 
interesting  beliefs  regarding  these  scavengers.  If, 
for  any  reason,  a  buzzards'  roost  is  changed  from  a 
certain  locality,  the  negroes  are  much  disturbed, 
and  in  some  instances  even  move  away  themselves, 
as  they  think  the  vicinity  is  "hoodooed."  It  is  a 
common  saying  among  them,  "When  de  buzzard 
moves,  hit's  time  for  de  nigger  to  move,  kase  de 
place  is  ha'nted." 


128    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

Thomas  Gentry  gives  in  the  following  a  most  in- 
teresting account  of  buzzard  manners.  He  had 
set  out  the  carcass  of  a  young  ground-hog  as  bait, 
and  after  four  days  was  rewarded  by  the  appear- 
ance of  five  buzzards.  As  if  in  obedience  to  orders, 
the  three  young  of  the  family  leaped  on  to  a  huge 
pine  log  that  lay  nearby  and  then  "with  a  few  quick 
steps,  that  were  meant  to  be  graceful,  the  female 
drew  near,  but  the  male  lingered  doubtingly  be- 
hind. Soon  she  was  busy  at  work,  tearing  with 
claw  and  with  bill  the  daintiest  morsels.  Rendered 
mad  by  the  smell  of  the  food,  the  male,  no  longer 
seeming  backward,  pressed  forward  to  her  side,  but 
only  to  retreat  before  her  savage  assaults.  Again 
he  essayed  the  attempt,  and  was  beaten  back  as  he 
had  been  before.  Convinced  that  further  effort 
would  be  useless,  he  strode  sulkily  to  a  distance, 
where,  in  moody  contemplation,  he  nervously 
awaited  her  ladyship's  sweet  pleasure. 

"Being  filled  to  the  full,  the  female  now  moved 
lazily  away  to  a  clean  patch  of  grass,  where  she  im- 
mediately set  to  work  arranging  her  toilette — wip- 
ing her  bill  and  her  claws  upon  the  green  carpet  be- 
fore her,  craning  her  neck  and  stretching  her  pin- 
ions, yawning  and  gaping  and  gaping  and  yawning 
— and  finally  ending  all  by  seeking  the  topmost  rail 
of  a  nearby  fence  for  rest  and  composure. 


SCAVENGERS  129 

"With  nothing  to  fear,  the  male  now  stalked  for- 
ward, and  was  soon  hard  at  work  at  what  was  left 
of  the  carcass.  His  appetite  less  capacious  than 
that  of  his  lady,  his  dinner  was  soon  over,  and  off 
he  strode  to  a  fresh  spot  of  grass,  where  he  went 
through  the  same  process  of  wiping  his  mouth  and 
stretching  and  yawning.  This  being  finished,  he 
mounted  the  rail  by  the  side  of  his  mistress. 

"More  interesting  far  than  either  of  the  parents 
were  the  three  black  creatures  that  stood  upon  the 
pine  log.  Fixed  to  the  spot  as  though  they  had 
grown  there,  with  scarcely  moving  heads  and  down- 
cast eyes,  they  eagerly  watched  the  food  disappear- 
ing, wondering,  mayhap,  as  children  are  prone  to 
do,  if  it  would  all  disappear  before  they  had  a 
chance  of  testing  its  virtues,  but  maintaining  their 
souls  the  while  in  perfect  serenity  of  repose.  But 
their  time  had  at  length  arrived,  and  down  from  the 
log  they  cast  themselves  instanter,  three  lusty  fel- 
lows as  large  as  the  parents,  but  one  of  them,  from 
his  limping  gate,  proving  to  be  lame.  Great  con- 
sideration was  shown  the  disabled  one  by  the  others, 
who  permitted  him  to  feed  first,  while  they  stood 
aside  until  he  had  satisfied  his  hunger,  when,  with- 
out the  least  bit  of  ceremony  or  the  least  indication 
of  ill-nature  or  selfishness,  they  set  to  work,  finish- 
ing in  quick  order  what  edible  was  left  of  the  dead 


animal.  Their  actions  after  feeding  were  exactly 
the  counterpart  of  those  of  the  parents.  Having 
finished  their  toilettes,  the  three  sought  the  rail  by 
the  side  of  the  father,  where,  like  their  illustrious 
heads,  they  were  soon  occupied  with  the  most  self- 
satisfying  thoughts,  utterly  oblivious,  as  it  seemed, 
of  time  and  surroundings. 

"More  than  an  hour  was  thus  spent  in  drowsy 
meditation,  when,  as  by  common  consent,  they  all, 
one  after  the  other,  leaped  to  the  ground,  where 
they  busied  themselves  preening  their  feathers  and 
preparing  for  departure.  The  time  being  ripe,  the 
female  set  the  example.  With  a  run  of  a  half- 
dozen  yards  to  gain  a  good  start,  she  was  soon  on 
the  wing,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  or  more  she  was 
lost  in  the  ether.  The  male  followed  suit,  and  when 
he  had  vanished  from  sight,  the  young,  one  after  the 
other,  mounted  the  atmosphere,  and  gradually  cir- 
cling their  way  through  limitless  depths,  were  also 
soon  lost  to  the  earth-chained  beholder." 

Numbers  of  such  stories  and  experiences  could 
be  told,  which,  to  the  uninitiated,  would  seem  almost 
incredible.  Yet  there  are  many  reliable  witnesses 
to  the  facts  regarding  the  family  life  of  these 
scavengers,  and  it  is  certain  that  the  female  buz- 
zard rules  the  family — a  feathered  autocrat — who 
at  times  finds  it  necessary  to  chastise  even  her  mate! 


SCAVENGERS  131 

Not  the  least  beautiful  phase  of  the  buzzard's  life 
is  the  perfect  loving  obedience  of  the  children.  They 
exhibit  a  sweet  and  gentle  disposition  under  the 
most  trying  circumstances.  Surely  human  children 
might  well  learn  from  the  young  buzzards  a  lesson 
of  filial  obedience  and  respect  that  would  redound 
to  the  charm  of  the  human  family. 

Young  buzzards,  when  they  first  come  out  of  the 
shell,  are  covered  with  white  down,  like  a  soft,  fluffy 
ball.  They  are  fed  upon  food  disgorged  by  their 
parents.  When  reared  in  captivity,  they  are  very 
tame,  and  will  eat  almost  anything  from  earth- 
worms to  fresh  meat  and  bread.  Their  service 
around  a  house  is  too  well  known  to  need  mention. 
They  are  easily  trained  to  do  tricks,  and  soon  learn 
just  how  to  please  their  masters.  The  chief  objec- 
tion to  them  is  the  peculiarly  offensive  odour  that 
seems  to  hover  always  with  them.  But  perhaps  this 
is  largely  due  to  the  nature  of  their  food. 

The  vultures — the  kings  of  the  scavenger  world 
— are  the  ugliest  of  all  their  profession.  Most  of 
them  are  bald-headed,  snaky-necked,  milky-eyed 
creatures,  more  horrid  than  the  mythical  harpies  of 
old.  They  have  the  wings  of  a  Gabriel,  but  the  head 
and  neck  of  a  Lucifer.  Even  a  jackal  would  look 
respectable  in  company  with  these  repulsive  crea- 
tures. They  can  plunge  their  hideous  bald  heads 


132    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

into  the  carcass  of  a  dead  animal  without  unduly 
soiling  their  feathers.  Those  who  have  seen  a  vul- 
ture banquet  will  have  no  difficulty  in  "accounting 
for  the  origin  of  those  angry  creations  of  the  gods 
that  defiled  the  banquets  of  King  Phineus."  Yet 
when  seen  at  a  long  distance,  far  away  beyond  the 
clouds,  soaring  like  a  self-sure  kite,  all  ugliness  dis- 
appears. Surely  in  this  case  distance  lends  en- 
chantment ! 

The  lammergeyer  or  bearded  vulture  is  the  lion 
among  vultures.  Some  ornithologists  class  him 
with  the  eagles.  He  is  one  of  the  aviation  corps  of 
the  high  mountainous  regions,  and  many  are  the 
strange  and  wonderful  tales  told  of  his  swooping 
down  and  carrying  off  little  children,  sheep,  goats, 
deer,  and  other  small  animals.  It  is  a  fact  that  he 
is  powerfully  strong,  and  that  his  food  consists 
partially  of  bones,  which  he  breaks  by  allowing 
them  to  fall  from  a  great  height  to  the  rocks  below. 
This  act  gives  him  the  name  of  "bone-smasher." 

This  notorious  creature,  so  it  is  claimed,  will  oc- 
casionally attack  a  living  animal,  when  it  is  able 
to  throw  it  over  a  precipice.  Sometimes  these 
ghouls  will  even  attack  a  dying  man,  and  kill  and 
devour  him,  when  he  is  in  an  out-of-the-way  place. 
But  the  chief  food  of  these  mountainous  scavengers 
consists  of  bones  and  the  flesh  of  dead  animals.  Like 


A  KINGFISHER  IN  THE  ACT  OF  SWALLOWING  HIS  PREY 


A  ROSE-BBEASTED  GROSBEAK  FEEDING  HKR  YOUNG 


SCAVENGERS  133 

most  thieves,  the  lammergeyer  is  a  thorough  cow- 
ard, and  will  attack  the  living  only  when  forced 
to  through  lack  of  food. 

Pharaoh's  chicken,  the  commonest  scavenger  of 
the  Himalayas,  has  many  opprobrious  names  not 
pleasant  to  mention.  He  feasts  on  all  kinds  of 
filth  and  carrion,  and  his  appearance  is  that  of  a 
typical  "hobo."  Indeed  he  is  the  "hobo"  of  the 
scavenger  family.  Not  only  is  he  a  tramp,  but  he 
is  one  of  the  shabbiest  birds  in  the  world.  His 
plumage  is  a  dirty  white,  except  the  edges  of  his 
wing  feathers,  which  are  trimmed  in  faded  brownish- 
black.  His  naked  face,  bill,  and  legs  are  of  a  dark 
yellowish-brown  colour;  while  the  coat  of  feathers 
on  his  back  is  ruffled  and  unkempt  like  that  of  a 
shabby  street  urchin.  With  all  these  poor  clothes 
he  lazily  staggers  when  walking,  like  a  newly  awak- 
ened hobo  from  a  hay  pile!  His  great  redeeming 
qualities  are  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  as 
a  scavenger,  and  his  ability  to  soar  high  above  the 
mountains  like  a  white  air-ship  trimmed  in  black! 

The  gnat-snappers  of  the  torrid  zones,  many  of 
which  destroy  millions  of  gnats  and  other  insects, 
are  nocturnal  in  their  habits.  It  is  a  common  sight 
in  Holland  to  see  droves  of  swans  devouring  the 
seeds  of  obnoxious  weeds,  while  in  Africa  cranes 
are  the  surest  death  to  the  toads  of  the  marshes, 


134    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

and  the  herons  are  the  eradicators  of  serpents  of 
the  plains.  After  an  overflow  of  the  Nile,  the  hanks 
are  covered  with  innumerable  reptiles  and  frogs, 
and  from  the  shores  of  Greece  and  the  Red  Sea 
come  droves  of  cranes,  pelicans,  and  aboumas  to 
eat  up  the  carcasses  which,  if  left  to  decay,  would 
scatter  disease  germs  far  and  wide. 

The  secretary-bird  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
scours  the  land  for  serpents  to  devour.  This  strange 
and  singular  bird  has  the  legs  of  a  crane  and  the 
head  of  an  eagle,  and  he  is  most  abundant  in  south- 
ern Africa.  He  is  a  very  desirable  inhabitant,  and 
to  him  the  natives  are  indebted  for  the  destruction 
of  innumerable  insects  and  serpents.  If  the  num- 
bers of  these  were  not  checked  by  the  secretary- 
bird,  they  would  become  a  calamity.  His  names  are 
many — archer,  messenger,  hunter,  serpent-eater. 

Secretaries,  like  most  of  the  large  birds  of  prey, 
build  their  nests  among  the  top  branches  of  the 
tallest  trees.  Their  food,  however,  they  seek  both 
on  dry  land  and  in  the  marshes.  On  land  they  find 
serpents  and  lizards,  while  in  the  marshes  they  hunt 
insects  and  large  tortoises.  One  of  their  most  in- 
teresting habits  is  the  peculiar  method  of  killing 
their  prey  before  eating  it.  If  the  secretary  meets 
with  a  tortoise,  big  or  little,  or  a  serpent,  he  crushes 
it  with  a  blow  of  his  foot  which  never  fails  in  its 


SCAVENGERS  135 

death-dealing  power.  Should  he  meet  a  serpent  too 
large  for  him  to  attack  in  this  manner,  he  grabs  it 
in  his  beak  and  rises  high  in  the  air,  from  which 
elevation  he  drops  it  upon  rocks  or  a  dead  tree.  As 
it  falls,  he  follows  it  with  lightning-like  rapidity  to 
the  earth,  where  he  attacks  it  while  it  is  stunned. 

The  secretaries  make  very  friendly  pets,  and  are 
easily  domesticated.  Their  natural  habits  are  of 
peculiar  advantage,  especially  in  regions  where  ser- 
pents and  frogs  abound.  The  French  established 
the  secretaries  in  their  colonies  in  Guadaloupe  and 
Martinique. 

A  cousin  of  the  secretary-bird,  and  much  smaller, 
is  the  gymnogene,  which  flies  lazily  around,  and 
chases  its  reptile-prey  on  foot,  when  it  has  missed 
it  by  swooping  down  from  above. 

The  jackdaw  is  the  common  scavenger  'of  the 
Philippine  Islands.  It  not  only  feasts  upon, 'the 
rejected  food  of  the  streets  but  occasionally  eats  in- 
sects and  reptiles.  An  interesting  cousin  *of  "the 
Philippine  jackdaw  is  frequently  seen  in  the  pro- 
vincial towns  of  England.  It  is  a  bird  that  loves 
the  high-towers  for  a  home,  and  its  high-pitched 
voice  seems  suited  to  its  dwelling.  In  London  it 
builds  in  only  a  few  of  the  hundreds  of  churches. 
It  seems  that  the  pigeons  are  fast  occupying  its  old 
headquarters. 


136    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

The  pariah  kite  of  Calcutta  is  as  plentiful  there 
as  was  the  kite  of  the  London  streets  in  days  gone 
by,  and  while  some  of  them  are  quite  well-behaved 
citizens,  many  have  become  "rowdies"  and  "rough- 
necks" of  the  worst  kind.  They  are  very  wise  and 
know  to  the  minute  when  garbage  is  to  be  put  out, 
and  are  ever  ready  for  the  lion's  share.  They  fight 
and  scramble  with  each  other,  and  with  scavenger 
dogs  and  cats,  worse  than  the  turkey  buzzards, 
snatching  food  right  and  left  even  out  of  the  mouths 
of  rival  fellows  with  the  most  astounding  audacity. 

Kites  have  an  interesting  way  of  sleeping  dur- 
ing the  day  with  their  bodies  flattened  against  the 
roofs  or  walls,  with  outstretched  wings,  in  exactly 
the  position  they  are  represented  on  the  old  Egyp- 
tian monuments.  In  this  position  no  one,  except  a 
native  of  the  town,  would  take  them  for  living  birds, 
but  rather  some  form  of  curious  ornament  or  dec- 
oration !  Occasionally  they  sleep  in  long  rows  which 
look  for  all  the  world  like  a  frescoe  on  an  Egyptian 
Wall.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  most  of  these 
scavengers  seem  ill-humoured,  sullen,  and  stupid. 
Like  most  of  their  profession  their  voices  are  hoarse 
and  ugly  and  their  spirits  seem  as  dull  as  their  bod- 
ies. 

A  large  number  of  birds  may  be  considered  as 
occasional  city  scavengers.  The  common  sparrow 


SCAVENGERS  187 

does  his  part,  quite  unappreciated  by  man ;  and  even 
our  beloved  starlings  render  valuable  aid  as  street 
cleaners,  or  better,  as  street  ornaments.  Ravens 
are  not  so  frequently  seen  on  the  streets,  but  there 
are  still  a  few  who  refuse  to  live  anywhere  except 
in  the  cities. 

No  wonder  that  everybody  loves  a  raven !  He  is 
one  of  the  most  amusing  and  fascinating  of  birds. 
He  talks,  sings,  hops  and  skips,  plays  games,  is  ex- 
tremely sociable,  full  of  fun,  and  enjoys  playing 
tricks  both  with  his  own  kind  and  with  human  be- 
ings. He  seems  to  do  well  in  most  all  climates  from 
the  tropics  to  the  far  north.  On  Alaska  Island  his 
kind  are  very  common,  and  in  the  colder  regions 
they  afford  by  their  amusing  ways  and  tricks  much 
pleasure  to  the  lonely  inhabitants.  It  might  truly 
be  said  that  the  ravens  and  whisky- jacks,  or  blue- 
jays,  are  the  only  professional  entertainers  of  the 
cold  climates.  In  the  big  cities  the  ravens  are  more 
desirable  as  scavengers  than  the  common  vulture. 
It  is  a  great  tragedy  that  the  raven  is  no  longer 
found,  except  in  very  rare  cases,  in  many  of  the 
larger  cities. 

Not  the  least  among  the  scavengers  is  the  car- 
rion-crow. He  is  indeed  a  Solomon  among  the  bird 
tribe,  notwithstanding  his  low  profession.  He  is 
often  found  around  the  carcasses  of  dead  animals  in 


138    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

company  with  dogs  and  buzzards,  eating  and  fight- 
ing for  his  food.  He  has  many  redeemable  char- 
acteristics, however,  and  chief  among  these  is  his 
love  of  his  offspring.  He  will  hover  over  and  pro- 
tect his  children  even  with  his  own  life. 

Most  scavenger  birds,  especially  the  buzzards, 
are  a  lazy,  cowardly,  degenerate  set.  They  origi- 
nally were  not  so  depraved  in  their  tastes.  Since  man 
became  the  ruler  of  the  beasts,  however,  Nature  has 
made  many  new  offices  and  professions  in  the  ani- 
mal world.  One  of  the  chief  of  these,  from  the 
utilitarian  point  of  view,  is  that  of  scavenger.  And 
these  have  been  elected  from  each  division  of  the 
kingdom:  The  burying-beetle  is  the  chief  scaven- 
ger of  the  insects ;  the  sharks  are  the  scavengers  of 
the  fish-world;  the  alligators  among  the  reptiles; 
the  jackals  among  the  mammals ;  while  the  vultures, 
buzzards,  and  kites  are  the  chief  scavengers  of  the 
bird  world.  So  long  have  they  followed  their  low 
profession  as  scavengers  that  their  talons  have 
weakened,  and  they  are  dull,  stupid,  and  unfit  for 
any  other  work  than  that  which  they  follow,  and  so 
have  fallen  into  slovenly  ways  that  are  perpetual. 


CHAPTER  IX 

COURTS  OF  JUSTICE 

Here,  too,  all  forms  of  social  union  find, 
And  hence  let  reason,  late,  instruct  mankind: 
Here  subterranean  works  and  cities  see: 
Their  towns  aerial  on  the  waving  tree. 

—  Pope. 


great  thinkers  of  the  human  world  recog- 
A  nise  a  kinship  in  all  forms  of  life;  men,  ani- 
mals, fishes  and  birds  are  made  of  the  same  stuff 
and  built  on  the  same  plan.  In  the  bird  world  may 
be  found  reflections  of  human  institutions,  a  fact 
which  does  not  seem  incredible  when  it  is  considered 
that  they  have  their  own  problems  of  community 
life  much  the  same  as  mankind.  Perhaps  if  this 
were  better  known,  the  wanton  slaughter  of  birds 
for  purposes  of  ministering  to  human  appetites, 
personal  adornment,  pride  in  marksmanship,  and 
the  mad  desire  to  add  to  stuffed  collections  would 
be  a  heathenish  custom  of  the  past. 

Bird  court  scenes  reveal  ideas  of  right  and  wrong 
in  a  most  startling  manner.     "Crow  courts"  are 

139 


common  sights  in  vicinities  where  these  birds  are 
found.  These  assemblies  are  held  at  a  particular 
tree,  hill,  or  spot  of  ground  away  from  all  danger. 
The  accused  criminals  are  arraigned  as  the  crow 
judges  caw — supposedly  their  names!  Evidently 
the  judges  are  experienced,  for  the  judgment  is 
rendered  very  quickly.  The  entire  assemblage  then 
madly  rushes  for  the  few  offenders  and  picks  them 
to  pieces.  When  a  criminal  is  once  brought  to 
court,  he  rarely  escapes  death.  As  soon  as  the  court 
session  is  over  all  the  crows  adjourn,  and  fly  away 
to  their  various  homes. 

Mr.  Eugene  T.  Zimmerman  relates  that,  dur- 
ing an  excursion  in  the  country,  near  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah,  he  accidentally  became  an  unexpected 
spectator  of  a  strange  trial.  About  one  hundred 
crows  were  arranged  in  a  semi-circle  about  two  of 
their  fellows,  while  on  the  topmost  branch  of  a  dead 
tree,  covered  with  a  red  trumpet  vine,  sat  two  which 
seemed  to  be  guards.  Evidently  the  guards  were 
so  concerned  with  the  proceedings  that  they  failed 
to  detect  the  approach  of  the  naturalist,  and  he 
quietly  concealed  himself  underneath  the  vine. 

The  crows  cawed  back  and  forth  to  one  another, 
but  the  fate  of  the  accused  was  not  decided  at  that 
meeting,  for  all  at  once  one  of  the  judges  spied 
Mr.  Zimmerman.  With  one  scream  of  alarm  the 


COURTS  OF  JUSTICE  141 

entire  court  assemblage  flew  toward  the  two  sen- 
tinels on  the  tree-top,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes 
these  untrustworthy  guards  were  literally  torn  into 
shreds.  This  was  punishment  for  their  failure  to 
notify  the  crow  court  of  the  presence  of  a  danger- 
ous spectator!  The  crows  then  flew  away,  prob- 
ablj  to  continue  the  session  elsewhere  with  more 
trustworthy  guards 

An  English  naturalist  was  riding  along  a  quiet 
road  one  day  when  he  was  startled  by  a  tremendous 
commotion  in  an  adjacent  field.  Cautiously  crawl- 
ing to  a  gap  in  the  hedge,  he  discovered  that  a  large 
assemblage  of  rooks  was  the  cause  of  the  noise. 
There  could  be  little  doubt  that  a  trial  was  going 
on.  The  criminal  stood  in  the  centre  of  a  small  but 
angry  group  of  his  sable-coated  brethren.  He  was 
cawing  loudly,  but  his  pleas  were  drowned  by  the 
clamour  of  hundreds  of  rooks  about  him ;  and  it  was 
not  long  before  the  entire  court  rushed  upon  the 
poor  wretch  and  pecked  him  to  pieces  in  a  few  min- 
utes. The  assembly  then  gradually  dispersed. 

For  some  strange  reason  young  rooks  seem  to 
take  special  delight  in  pilfering.  One  is  almost 
forced  to  believe  that  it  is  their  method  of  educa- 
tion, a  special  training  for  earning  their  livelihood ! 
Be  this  as  it  may,  one  thing  is  sure — if  they  are 
caught,  great  punishment  is  meted  out  to  them. 


142    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

Blackbirds  hold  council  meetings,  apparently  to 
decide  on  important  questions.  They  seem  to  pre- 
fer a  thick  forest  for  these  councils.  Through  much 
experience  they  have  learned  that  gunpowder  is  a 
dangerous  thing,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  they 
can  smell  it  at  a  long  distance.  At  the  council 
meetings  are  sentinels  who  give  the  alarm  at  the 
least  approach  of  danger.  The  chiefs  soar  about 
in  the  air,  as  if  giving  specific  directions  to  certain 
guides.  Some  naturalists  claim  that  these  birds 
send  scouts  ahead  to  see  if  the  territory  is  safe  and 
is  supplied  with  food  sufficient  to  feed  the  hosts. 

They  do  not  forget  kindness,  and  when  welcomed 
in  a  vicinity,  they  will  return  the  next  season  in  in- 
creased numbers.  The  song  of  the  blackbird  is  very 
beautiful ;  it  is  rich  and  full  in  tone  though  of  little 
variety.  It  begins  the  latter  part  of  February  and 
continues  with  increasing  power  until  the  first  of 
June.  It  mellows  down  through  the  autumn  and 
winter.  At  their  council  meetings  each  blackbird 
seems  to  speak  in  a  different  key.  Let  us  hope  that 
the  fallacious  belief  that  the  blackbird  is  an  enemy 
of  man  has  long  since  passed.  He  is  the  greatest 
friend  of  a  farmer's  field,  and  doubly  pays  for  all 
the  food  he  eats  by  destroying  worms  and  cater- 
pillars. 

Even  the  water  birds  have  their  courts  of  justice. 


COURTS  OF  JUSTICE  143 

The  flamingos  are  famed  for  their  court  trials.  The 
Rev.  G.  Gogerly  relates  this  story:  "The  flamingo 
is  common  in  the  low,  marshy  lands  of  Bengal.  My 
friend,  Mr.  Lacroix,  the  well-known  missionary, 
when  once  sailing  in  his  boat  up  the  Hoogly,  went 
on  shore.  His  attention  was  shortly  directed  to  a 
large  gathering  of  these  peculiar-looking  birds  in 
a  field  some  distance  off.  Knowing  their  timid 
character,  he  approached  as  near  as  he  could  with- 
out being  observed  or  exciting  alarm;  and,  hiding 
himself  behind  a  tree,  noticed  all  their  proceedings, 
which  were  of  a  most  remarkable  character.  After 
a  great  deal  of  noisy  clamour,  they  formed  them- 
selves into  a  circle,  in  the  centre  of  which  one  of 
their  number  was  left  standing  alone.  Again  there 
was  a  considerable  amount  of  screeching  oratory, 
when  suddenly  all  the  birds  flew  on  the  unhappy, 
solitary  one  and  literally  tore  him  to  pieces."  Mr. 
Lacroix  came  to  the  conclusion  that  one  of  the  birds 
had  committed  a  terrible  offence  against  the  laws 
of  the  bird  colony,  that  he  had  been  tried  and  found 
guilty,  that  the  sentence  of  death  had  been  pro- 
nounced upon  him,  and  that  his  execution  had  taken 
place  immediately. 

Sparrows  also  make  judicial  inquiry  into  the  ac- 
tions of  their  fellows.    They  are,  however,  less  for- 


144    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

mal  than  most  other  birds  in  their  court  proceed- 
ings. 

Mrs.  Starks  in  her  Letters  on  Italy  tells  an  in- 
teresting tale  of  poetic  justice  among  storks.  She 
says:  "A  wild  stork  was  brought  by  a  farmer  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Hamburg  into  his  poultry- 
yard,  to  be  the  companion  of  a  tame  one  he  had 
long  kept  there;  but  the  tame  stork,  disliking  a 
rival,  fell  upon  the  poor  stranger,  and  beat  him  so 
unmercifully  that  he  was  compelled  to  take  wing, 
and  escaped  with  difficulty.  About  four  months 
afterward,  however,  the  latter  returned  to  the  poul- 
try-yard, in  company  with  three  other  storks,  who 
no  sooner  alighted  than  they  fell  upon  the  tame 
stork  and  killed  him." 

Four  guinea-hen's  eggs  were  placed  under  a  duck. 
The  duck  patiently  sat  upon  the  eggs  until  the 
young  guineas  were  hatched  out,  but  the  other 
ducks  quacked  and  nodded  their  heads  in  the  most 
surprised  manner  on  seeing  them.  After  a  short 
conference,  near  the  pool  of  water  into  which  the 
unnatural  ducklings  refused  to  wade,  a  duck  com- 
mittee deliberately  pounced  upon  them  and  pecked 
them  to  pieces.  For  many  days  Mrs.  Duck  re- 
mained alone  in  the  barnyard,  as  though  conscious 
that  she  had  brought  disgrace  to  the  Duck  family! 

Not  only  do  birds  have  their  courts  of  justice, 


COURTS  OF  JUSTICE  145 

but  also  these  wise  feathered  people  seem  to  make 
very  good  politicians.  Perhaps  the  best  example 
of  republicanism  is  found  among  the  grossbeaks. 
Sometimes  a  thousand  of  these  little  beings  build 
their  nests  in  one  huge  tree  and  form  a  veritable 
aerial  city.  This  city  is  more  like  an  immense  apart- 
ment house,  where  each  has  his  individual  apart- 
ment, yet  all  is  one  vast  building,  elegantly  cov- 
ered with  a  roof  which  rises  above  the  summit  of 
the  tree.  They  have  no  special  offices  of  honour, 
but  each  bird  is  free  to  answer  for  himself,  and 
lead  his  own  life  like  a  gentleman. 

Many  birds  have  adopted  this  mode  of  life,  thus 
carrying  out  the  idea  of  Aristophanes'  aerial  city — 
isolated  from  land  and  water.  Levaillant  describes 
one  of  these  umbrella-like  structures:  "I  caused  it 
to  be  brought  to  me,  by  several  men,  who  set  it  on 
a  vehicle.  I  cut  it  with  an  axe,  and  saw  that  it  was 
in  the  main  a  mass  of  Booschmannie  grass,  without 
any  mixture,  but  so  strongly  woven  together  that 
it  was  impossible  for  the  rain  to  penetrate.  This  is 
only  the  framework  of  the  edifice;  each  bird  con- 
structs for  himself  a  separate  nest  under  the  com- 
mon pavilion.  The  nests  occupy  only  the  reverse 
of  the  roof ;  the  upper  part  remains  empty,  without, 
however,  being  useless;  for,  raised  more  than  the 
remainder  of  the  pile,  it  gives  to  the  whole  sufficient 


146    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

inclination,  and  thus  preserves  each  little  habita- 
tion. .  .  .  Each  nest  is  three  or  four  inches  in  diam- 
eter, which  is  sufficiently  large  for  the  bird;  but  as 
they  are  in  close  contact  around  the  roof,  they  ap- 
pear to  the  eye  to  form  a  single  edifice,  and  are  only 
separated  by  a  small  opening  which  serves  as  an 
entry  to  the  nest;  and  one  entrance  frequently  is 
common  to  three  nests,  one  of  which  is  placed  at 
the  bottom,  and  the  others  on  each  side.  It  has  320 
cells,  and  will  hold  640  inhabitants,  if  each  contains 
a  couple,  which  may  be  doubted.  Every  time,  how- 
ever, that  I  have  aimed  at  a  swarm,  I  have  killed 
the  same  number  of  males  and  females." 

Bird  colonies  are  more  or  less  common,  since  it 
is  often  necessary  to  combine  to  build  effective  shel- 
ters against  the  elements,  or  to  unite  their  strength 
in  defence  against  their  enemies. 

Perhaps  no  better  example  of  law  and  order  can 
be  found  among  birds  than  that  observed  by  the 
"Twelve  Apostles  bird."  These  interesting  inhabi- 
tants of  Australia  build  their  open  circular  nests 
of  mud  and  grass  quite  close  together  for  mutual 
protection.  They  work  together  like  a  group  of 
carpenters  and  when  the  nest  is  completed  a  num- 
ber of  the  female  birds  lay  one  egg  each  in  the  com- 
munity nest,  and  then  one  of  the  hen  birds  sets  upon 
the  eggs.  If,  for  any  reason,  she  is  killed,  another 


THE  TOUCAN,  WITH  HIS  EXTRAORDINARY  SAW-EDGED  BILL,  CAN  WKLL  DEFEND 

HIMSELF 


COURTS  OF  JUSTICE  147 

bird  immediately  takes  her  position,  and  when  the 
young  birds  are  hatched  out  a  group  of  adults  feeds 
them  until  they  are  able  to  feed  themselves.  The 
nest  is  respected  as  the  common  property  of  the 
bird  group  and  each  bird  is  interested  in  its  wel- 
fare. 

Some,  however,  like  the  hornbills,  are  never  com- 
pelled to  adopt  such  measures,  as  their  own  skill 
in  masonry  and  other  natural  endowments  render 
each  family  safe  unto  themselves.  These  interest- 
ing birds  are  plentiful  in  the  tropical  regions  of 
Africa  and  Asia  and  the  southernmost  parts  of 
Europe  in  several  species.  Most  of  them  are  quite 
large,  several  exceeding  four  feet  in  length.  They 
are  famed  for  their  extraordinarily  large  beaks ;  in 
some  species  these  beaks  are  mounted  by  a  casque 
which  appears  like  a  second  beak.  Another  un- 
usual feature  is  their  well-developed  eyelashes. 
Eyelashes  are  somewhat  rare  among  birds.  In  fly- 
ing these  birds  produce  a  noise  similar  to  a  rail- 
road train.  This  is  caused  by  "the  air  rushing  be- 
tween the  bases  of  the  quills"  as  the  under  coverts 
of  their  wings  do  not,  as  is  usual  in  birds,  cover  the 
lower  part  of  the  quills. 

Yet  with  all  these  wonderful  features  of  the  horn- 
bills,  it  is  their  nesting  habits  which  are  most  in- 
teresting. The  hen  deposits  her  eggs  in  a  nest 


148    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

made  in  the  hollow  of  a  tree,  and  when  she  is  ready 
to  incubate  she  goes  into  the  nest  and  is  there 
walled  in  by  her  mate.  Only  a  tiny  hole  is  left  as  a 
window  where  he  can  bring  her  food  and  water 
during  her  long  imprisonment.  She  does  not  in  the 
least  object  to  the  confinement;  in  fact  she  even 
aids  in  closing  up  the  wall  with  the  mud  that  her 
mate  brings  for  that  purpose,  and  when  it  is  fin- 
ished it  is  exceedingly  strong.  If  she  were  not  shut 
up  in  this  manner,  monkeys,  snakes,  and  other  ene- 
mies would  not  only  destroy  the  eggs  or  young, 
but  would  take  her  life  also.  If  an  attempt  upon 
the  nest  is  made,  the  female  places  her  large  bony 
crest  over  the  window,  effectively  closing  it  against 
would-be  assassins. 

Several  years  ago  Dr.  Gunther,  of  the  British 
Museum,  exhibited  before  the  Zoological  Society 
of  London  the  trunk  of  a  tree  from  Cape  Colony, 
with  a  hornbill's  nest.  "The  female,"  he  said,  "when 
taken,  was  unable  to  fly  and  was  simultaneously 
moulting  all  the  wing  and  tail-feathers,  thus  pre- 
senting the  appearance  of  a  half-fledged  young 
bird.  This  species,  therefore,  confirms  the  observa- 
tion made  on  other  species  of  the  genus,  viz.,  that 
the  hornbills  pass  through  a  complete  moult  in  the 
six  or  eight  weeks  during  which  they  are  imprisoned 
with  the  eggs  and  young." 


COURTS  OF  JUSTICE  149 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  phenomena  in  the 
life  history  of  these  strange  birds  is  their  ability  to 
form  and  disgorge  gizzard-sacs,  or  sausages.  These 
sausages  contain  several  kinds  of  food,  such  as  liz- 
ards, small  fruits,  seeds,  and  bits  of  tender  roots. 
They  are  adaptations  which  permit  the  male  to 
feed  the  female  a  sufficient  amount  of  food  at  one 
visit  to  last  for  some  time.  Otherwise  his  oft- 
repeated  visits  might  disclose  the  position  of  the 
nest  to  enemies,  and  thus  lead  to  her  annoyance  or 
destruction.  The  natives  call  the  hornbill  the  "jeal- 
ous bird,"  because  it  is  said  that  if  the  male  suspects 
that  another  bird  has  visited  his  home  in  his  ab- 
sence, he  deliberately  seals  his  mate  up  in  the  place, 
and  goes  away,  leaving  her  to  die  of  hunger.* 

It  has  often  been  observed  that  animals  attack 
and  destroy  certain  enemies  on  sight  for  no  reason 
of  appetite;  and  no  cause  can  be  ascribed  to  this 
except  that  of  self -protection.  There  seems  to  be 
a  complete  understanding  on  their  part  that  their 
welfare  depends  upon  the  destruction  of  all  indi- 
viduals of  that  race  that  they  meet.  This  possibly 
accounts  for  the  antipathy  of  the  cat  for  the  dog, 
the  crow  for  the  owl,  the  mangouse  for  the  cobra. 
Through  generations  birds  have  learned  that  other 
birds  look  upon  them  or  their  nestlings  with  mur- 


150    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

derous  intent,  and  they  never  neglect  an  oppor- 
tunity to  destroy  or  drive  them  far  away. 

In  any  district  where  its  race  does  not  predomi- 
nate, a  bird  of  predatory  habits  is  an  outlaw  in  the 
eyes  of  all  the  other  feathered  inhabitants,  and  they 
band  together  to  encompass  its  defeat  or  annihila- 
tion. And  in  this  they  are  enforcing  the  law  of 
their  community,  since  law  looks  to  the  protection 
of  the  citizens  of  the  given  district  from  the  depreda- 
tions of  any  individuals  from  within  or  without. 
Surely  no  better  motive  could  be  found. 

Once  a  great  white  owl  that  must  have  come  far 
from  his  sub-arctic  home,  was  discovered  sleeping 
the  morning  hours  away  in  the  rafters  of  an  old 
deserted  barn  in  Morgan  Park,  Illinois.  He  was 
a  large  specimen  and  a  beautiful  one.  Coming 
upon  him  was  a  surprise  and  a  delight  for  the 
naturalist.  He  had  entered  the  barn  only  out  of 
curiosity  in  the  course  of  a  long  tramp  over  hill 
and  dale,  but  the  tragedy  which  his  entrance  caused 
has  always  been  a  matter  of  regret  to  him.  The 
owl  slowly  opened  his  great  yellow  eyes  and  looked 
down  through  the  gloom  to  where  the  intruder 
stood  admiring  him.  Then  he  became  frightened, 
and,  spreading  his  magnificent  wings,  he  dropped 
to  the  level  of  the  barn  door  and  flew  out  into  the 
sunlight  and  to  his  death. 


COURTS  OF  JUSTICE  151 

His  flight  was  uncertain  as  though  the  sunlight 
staggered  him,  and  he  tried  to  make  for  the  woods 
which  topped  a  nearby  hill.  But  out  of  the  sky, 
and  as  from  nowhere,  up  from  the  ploughed  ground 
and  the  river  edge,  his  enemies,  whom  no  one  could 
have  dreamed  were  present,  came  in  twos  and  threes 
and  sixes  and  sevens  and  finally  in  a  flock  to  strike 
him  down. 

They  were  crows,  vigilant  and  terrible  creatures, 
and  they  were  bent  upon  the  destruction  of  the  out- 
law in  their  midst.  The  naturalist  saw  and  heard 
the  combat,  which  lasted  only  a  few  moments,  and 
he  arrived  on  the  scene  after  a  wild  run  down  hill 
and  across  the  fields.  After  a  few  fruitless  at- 
tempts at  dodging,  tHe  owl  struggled  fiercely  with 
his  foes,  but  he  was  doomed.  Soon  he  fell  to  earth, 
where  the  naturalist  found  him,  a  bleeding  and  life- 
less body.  The  great  bird  was  nearly  headless,  the 
broad  white  breast  had  been  torn  entirely  open,  and 
his  beautiful  plumes  bathed  in  his  life's  blood. 

Whether  the  crows  would  have  carried  their  re- 
venge further  on  the  body  if  not  frightened  away, 
is  a  question.  But  they  had  not  required  two  min- 
utes to  destroy  utterly  their  resplendent  enemy.  If 
any  of  their  number  was  injured  or  killed  in  the 
course  of  that  battle  in  the  air,  none  was  left  on  the 
field  with  the  owl.  The  majestic  culprit  of  a  hun- 


dred  midnight  raids  upon  the  nests  of  crows  and 
other  birds,  alone  suffered  the  death  penalty. 

Many  other  instances  of  feathered  judgment  and 
execution  could  easily  be  cited.  The  more  we  study 
the  world  of  non-human  nature,  the  more  we  see 
how  arrogant  it  is  for  man  to  suppose  for  an  in- 
stant that  he  is  the  sole  possessor  of  moral  and 
spiritual  perception.  Birds  have  no  written  laws 
and  no  money-paid  lawyers  and  judges.  If  man  is 
to  understand  their  courts  of  justice,  their  moral 
and  spiritual  codes,  their  unwritten  family  laws- 
he  must  study  them  from  the  equator  to  the  polar 
circle ;  from  the  tops  of  the  Andes,  amid  unscalable 
crags  and  cliffs,  to  the  distant  islands  of  the  sea, 
and  reed-covered  banks  of  tropical  streams.  .Wher- 
ever the  air  has  a  feathered  inhabitant,  wherever 
eyrie-like  orchids  grow,  which  are  fertilised  by  iri- 
descent, fairy-like  humming-birds,  wherever  the 
northern  white  birds  congregate  along  the  willow- 
grown  bottoms  of  the  Yukon,  or  mass  themselves 
in  coveys  like  a  circle  of  white  snow-flakes,  to  hide 
from  their  arctic  enemies — there  is  a  perfection  of 
law  and  justice  unknown  to  man. 


CHAPTER  X 

BIRDS   AND   THEIR  BEAUTY   PARLOURS 

Birds,  the  free  tenants  of  earth,  air,  and  ocean, 

Their  forms  all  symmetry,  their  motions  grace, 

In  plumage  delicate  and  beautiful, 

Thick  without  burthen,  close  as  fish's  scales, 

Or  loose  as  full-glown  poppies  on  the  gale; 

With  wings  that  seem  as  they'd  a  soul  within  them, 

They  bear  their  owners  with  such  sweet  enchantment. 

— Montgomery. 

r  INHERE  are  no  other  characteristics  of  birds 
<*•  so  nearly  resembling  human  beings  as  those 
which  pertain  to  the  art  of  beauty.  They  seem  to 
be  under  the  dominion  of  the  same  laws  and  de- 
sires, seek  companionship,  love, — give  evidences  of 
all  the  human  passions — jealousy,  hatred,  ambition; 
are  great  rivals  in  many  ways,  and  always  strive  to 
appear  at  their  best.  This  is  true  of  the  males  quite 
as  much  as  of  the  females. 

If  the  female  appears  vain,  surely  the  male  is 
doubly  so,  and  even  his  barber  work  is  never  neg- 
lected. Birds  act  as  their  own  barbers — never 
trusting  such  important  duties  to  another.  They 

163 


154  THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

use  their  bills  for  brush  and  comb,  with  an  occasional 
special  brushing  against  a  cedar,  fir,  or  pine  bough; 
the  blackbird  has  learned  to  dust  his  coat  on  a  corn- 
stalk, or  on  the  cat-tails ;  the  finches,  starlings,  spar- 
rows, robins,  and  innumerable  others  not  only  bathe 
every  day,  but  take  special  sand-baths  to  cleanse 
and  shine  their  lovely  clothes. 

The  larger  birds — such  as  wild  turkeys,  prairie 
chickens,  guineas,  and  quails — go  to  the  same  sand 
spot  day  after  day  for  their  sand-bath.  These 
places  are  their  beauty  parlours.  Water  birds — 
such  as  the  ducks,  swans,  geese,  herons,  ibises,  and 
pelicans — all  use  the  water  as  a  mirror  or  looking- 
glass.  Every  person  who  has  studied  their  habits 
closely  knows  that  these  birds,  after  finishing  their 
bath,  stand  by  a  clear  pool  of  water,  or  on  the  mossy 
bank  above  the  stream,  and  arrange  their  feathers 
before  the  mirror. 

Bird  beauties  will  not  run  the  risk  of  spoiling 
their  beautiful  dresses  in  bad  climates  or  in  great 
storms;  it  is  perhaps  for  this  reason  that  they  have 
become  so  "weather  wise."  Many  people  even 
use  them  as  barometers.  Ducks  and  geese  invari- 
ably throw  water  over  their  backs  before  a  rain. 
This  is  possibly  done  to  prevent  the  drops  of  rain 
penetrating  to  their  warm  bodies  through  the  open 
dry  outer  feathers.  Swallows  always  foretell  wet 


BIRDS  AND  THEIR  PARLOURS    155 

weather  by  flying  low.  But  this  is  because  the  in- 
sects which  the  swallows  eat  have  been  driven  from 
the  upper  regions  of  the  air  by  the  moisture  which 
precedes  rain. 

Owls  rejoice  at  the  approach  of  dry  fair  weather 
by  screaming,  hooting,  and  laughing,  for  they  know 
it  means  a  good  hunting  trip  for  them.  A  lone 
magpie  during  the  brooding  season  foretells  bad 
weather,  because  the  mate  has  remained  at  home  to 
take  special  care  of  the  children,  and  in  all  ways  to 
protect  their  lovely  delicate  plumage  from  the  rains. 

Manicure  parlours  are  quite  as  necessary  among 
birds  as  among  humans.  Nature  has  wisely  pro- 
vided many  rough  stones,  twigs,  and  shells  for  the 
sharpening  and  polishing  of  beaks  and  nails.  Storks 
and  cranes  polish  their  beaks  in  the  sand;  swallows 
and  martins  brush  against  the  sand  banks;  while 
myriads  of  smaller  birds,  like  the  finches,  sparrows, 
bluebirds,  and  wrens,  use  the  rough  bark  of  trees 
to  polish  and  sharpen  their  beaks  and  nails. 

Beauty  with  birds,  even  more  than  with  humans, 
determines  very  largely  their  success  in  life,  and 
with  them  every  profession  has  its  special  form  of 
beauty. 

Each  and  every  family  of  birds  has  some  pe- 
culiar and  attractive  method  of  arranging  its  toi- 
lette. In  most  instances  they  take  great  pleasure 


156    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

in  it;  and  who  can  say  that  it  is  in  all  cases  neces- 
sary to  the  welfare  of  the  performer?  It  may  be 
purely  for  the  pleasure  derived  therefrom.  This 
undoubtedly  is  true  in  the  case  of  tame  birds  who 
have  much  time  to  spare.  The  long  and  lonely 
days  in  captivity  would  pass  very  slowly  without 
such  an  agreeable  occupation. 

My  brown  thrush  takes  the  greatest  delight  in 
her  bath.  I  first  met  her  in  a  dark  and  lonely  bird- 
store  in  New  York  City.  The  keeper  informed  me 
that  he  had  had  her  six  years,  and  could  not  sell 
her  because  she  was  so  ugly ;  that  she  could  neither 
sing  nor  produce  a  sound,  and  for  this  reason  he 
had  kept  her  away  back  in  a  dark,  dusty,  cold  cor- 
ner, in  a  cage  that  is  best  undescribed. 

My  heart  went  out  to  this  desolate  lonely  crea- 
ture. I  bought  her  for  a  small  sum,  much  to  the 
delight  of  her  prison-keeper,  took  her  home  with  me, 
and  gave  her  a  large,  sunny,  clean  cage,  with  plenty 
of  fresh  gravel,  good  food,  swings  to  play  on,  room 
to  exercise  her  precious  and  almost  lifeless  wings, 
several  near  bird-neighbours,  and  not  least  of  all,  a 
big  bathtub  of  water!  Never  shall  I  forget  her  joy 
on  beholding  such  luxuries.  And  into  the  bathtub 
she  plunged  and  bathed  to  her  heart's  content. 

I  found  that  she  was  troubled  with  parasites 
which  constant  bathing  soon  eradicated.  Her 


BIRDS  AND  THEIR  PARLOURS    157 

shaggy,  ill-kept  plumage  began  to  take  on  a  lovely 
sparkle  of  brown,  and  her  faded  breast  immediately 
became  covered  with  the  loveliest  whitish-brown 
specks  like  jewelled  beads;  her  beak,  legs  and  feet 
changed  into  a  healthy  glow,  and  her  dull  glassy 
eyes  assumed  a  brilliancy  equal  to  that  of  rare 
diamonds.  Soon  her  nervous,  frightened  attitude 
toward  me  changed  into  one  of  perfect  confidence 
and  affection.  She  will  even  take  a  piece  of  apple 
from  my  hand,  and  give  the  loveliest  chirp  as  though 
she  were  expressing  gratitude. 

But  the  definite  mark  of  her  long  and  lonely  im- 
prisonment without  even  a  bathtub  is  still  upon  her. 
When  I  first  got  her  she  had  all  her  tail  feathers 
broken  and  destroyed,  so  I  pulled  out  the  little 
rough  stubs  that  nice  new  ones  could  again  grow. 
And  soon,  to  my  absolute  surprise,  a  lovely  row  of 
new  feathers  began  to  appear,  but  alas, — they  were 
not  brown  as  they  had  once  been,  but  almost  pure 
white.  I  can  only  believe  that  long  suffering  has 
turned  her  feathers  in  the  same  way  that  it  turns 
one's  hair  grey. 

I  am  trying  in  every  way  to  make  the  remainder 
of  her  life  happy.  And  in  her  cage  she  has  a  little 
mirror  before  which  she  spends  much  time  chirping 
and  preening  her  lovely  feathers.  Evidently  she 
enjoys  "the  other  bird"  in  the  mirror!  At  least  she 


158    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

is  happy  in  her  new  home,  and  when  spring  returns 
I  shall  give  her  her  freedom  in  the  great  out-of- 
doors,  hoping  that  the  fates  may  be  kind  to  such  an 
unfortunate  being,  and  that  she  may  find  that  peace, 
happiness,  and  freedom  which  we  all  seek. 

All  birds  are  fond  of  bathing,  and  it  is  not  only 
a  pleasure  with  them,  but  a  necessity.  For  in  many 
cases  their  lives  depend  upon  their  power  of  flight. 
If  this  power  of  flight  be  limited,  they  more  easily 
fall  a  prey  to  bird-destroying  animals,  and  even  to 
man  himself.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  all  mi- 
grating birds  pay  the  strictest  attention  to  their 
toilettes  before  starting  on  their  long  journeys. 

Among  the  numerous  ways  in  which  birds  clean 
their  feathers,  and  perhaps  the  most  common,  is 
by  means  of  sand  or  dust,  and  is  referred  to  as  the 
"dry-cleaning"  process  or  dust-bath.  We  are  told 
that  even  man  himself  occasionally  takes  dust-baths. 
The  religion  of  the  Mohammedan  requires  him  to 
take  a  bath  at  a  certain  time  each  day,  and  this  he 
never  neglects.  If  he  is  in  the  desert,  where  there 
is  no  water,  the  commands  of  the  Prophet  must  be 
obeyed,  and  so  he  takes-  a  dust-bath  1  This  dry- 
cleaning  process  at  least  serves  to  ease  his  con- 
science, although  it  would  be  a  poor  substitute  ac- 
cording to  our  ideas  of  cleanliness. 

The  sand-  or  dust-bath  is  a  general  favourite  with 


BIRDS  AND  THEIR  PARLOURS    159 

many  of  the  birds.  Finches  seem  to  bathe  very 
rarely  in  water;  they  prefer  the  dry  shampoo  with 
sand.  Whippoorwills  have  regular  "public  baths" 
in  sandy  roads,  where  they  congregate  late  of  eve- 
nings or  on  moonlight  nights  to  bathe.  Sparrows 
spend  a  large  part  of  the  day  in  dust  bathing. 
Often  a  score  of  these  carefree  city  dwellers  will 
locate  a  particularly  attractive  spot,  and  roll  rnd 
flutter  in  the  fine  dust  as  they  chatter  and  chirp  to 
one  another. 

Doves  are  more  modest  and  seek  a  quiet  sand- 
pile  underneath  a  pine-tree  or  in  a  deep  gulley, 
where  no  one  will  see  them  bathe.  Partridges  have 
a  very  thorough  manner  of  dust-bathing.  They 
carefully  choose  a  place  that  is  dry  and  free  from 
grass  or  other  vegetation ;  scratching  a  shallow  hole, 
each  ruffles  its  feathers  energetically,  and  with  every 
sign  of  keen  enjoyment  rolls  and  tumbles  in  the 
dust.  A  covey  of  partridges  will  select  a  bathing 
ground  where  each  individual  has  its  own  particular 
dust  hole  to  which  it  returns  each  day. 

The  bird  of  paradise  seeks  a  shower-bath  when- 
ever it  is  possible,  and  if  this  is  not  convenient,  he 
plunges  into  a  pool  of  water  or  running  stream. 
After  his  bath  he  perches  on  the  high  branch  of  a 
tree,  and  there  dries  his  exquisite  plumage.  "The 
body  then  assumes  an  almost  erect  position,  the  feet 


160    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

clinging  very  tightly  to  the  perch,  for  otherwise  the 
bird  would  fall  backward ;  the  wings  are  raised,  fully 
extended  and  widely  separated  from  the  body ;  and 
the  bird  is  seen  to  shake  the  whole  body,  at  the  same 
time  expanding  the  lovely  ornamental  feathers,  the 
uppermost  and  shortest  of  which  are  elevated  the 
most,  their  ends  hanging  over  in  a  graceful  manner. 
At  each  side  of  the  plume  the  brilliant  shining 
orange  colour  is  seen  extending  to  more  than  half 
its  length,  and  gracefully  fading  all  round  into  the 
pure  white,  in  a  most  exquisite  manner,  a  strip  of 
the  richest  red-brown,  almost  black  in  its  depth  of 
colour,  running  through  the  orange  colour  to  about 
one  quarter  the  length  of  the  plume.  During  this 
display,  the  wings  make  a  slight  flapping  move- 
ment, and  the  tail  with  its  long  bare  shafts,  is  thrust 
forward  under  the  perch.  While  the  birds  are  thus 
showing  themselves  to  the  greatest  advantage,  they 
suddenly  commence  jumping  and  turning  about  on 
the  perch  in  a  very  excited  manner,  uttering  at  the 
same  moment  a  series  of  screams  louder  and  more 
piercing  than  any  of  their  ordinary  notes."  Thus 
the  elaborate  toilette  ends  with  a  dance  and  song — 
a  real  vaudeville  performance! 

The  sea-gulls  and  other  salt-water  birds  occasion- 
ally abandon  their  usual  haunts  to  journey  far  in- 
land to  some  fresh-water  stream  to  cleanse  and 


BIRDS  AND  THEIR  PARLOURS    161 

beautify  their  plumage.  They  know  as  well  as  we 
that  the  cleansing  power  of  fresh  water  far  exceeds 
that  of  salt,  and  they  avail  themselves  of  it  in  spite 
of  distance. 

In  the  chosen  pool  or  stream  they  sport  like  so 
many  schoolboys,  screaming,  diving,  and  chasing 
each  other  in  a  manner  unmistakably  jolly  and  bois- 
terous. Then  they  repair  to  some  nearby  sunny 
hillside  where  they  sit  with  their  faces  to  the  wind, 
preening  their  feathers  in  sheer  contentment.  Pen- 
guins also  seek  fresh  water  whenever  possible,  and, 
although  they  are  ill-adapted  to  land  travel,  often 
go  far  inland  to  seek  a  stream  where  they  may  rear 
their  young. 

Parrots,  while  not  adapted  to  the  water  in  any 
way,  yet  spend  a  great  deal  of  their  time  in  bath- 
ing. Their  beautiful  plumage  is  their  chief  pride, 
and  they  take  pains  to  keep  it  in  the  best  condition 
possible.  Several  species  of  African  parrots  are 
known  to  observe  the  custom  of  daily  meeting  in  a 
dead  tree,  and  proceeding  en  masse  to  a  bathing- 
place.  None  but  limpid  water  will  satisfy  their 
fastidious  tastes,  so  they  travel  a  considerable  dis- 
tance. 

When  they  arrive  there,  they  abandon  themselves 
to  the  frolic,  and  roll  and  tumble  about,  throwing 
water  with  their  wings  until  all  are  soaked.  Then 


162    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

they  go  to  the  bare  tree,  where  they  preen  their 
feathers  and  complete  their  toilette,  after  which 
they  fly  away  in  pairs — to  gather  again  the  next 
morning  to  dry  their  dew-drenched  plumage  in  the 
sun.  Often  at  these  parties  the  birds  have  been  ob- 
served to  preen  each  other's  feathers  in  quite  a 
friendly  and  efficient  manner,  not  unlike  our  mod- 
ern barbers  and  hair-dressers. 

Humming-birds  are  the  most  fastidious,  the  most 
beautiful,  and  the  most  diminutive  of  all  the  feath- 
ered tribe.  Their  native  haunts  are  only  in  Amer- 
ica, and  chiefly  in  the  parts  of  South  America 
where  the  climate  is  very  warm.  They  fill  the  place 
taken  in  the  Old  World  by  the  sun-birds.  In  India 
these  sun-birds  are  often  referred  to  as  humming- 
birds; but  the  real  humming-birds  are  confined  to 
America.  The  brilliancy  of  their  colours,  the  ele- 
gance of  their  forms,  and  the  manifold  arrange- 
ments and  colour  effects  of  their  costumes  is  in- 
describable. 

The  broad-tailed  humming-birds  are  most  careful 
about  their  toilette.  Every  morning  they  go  to 
bathe  at  daylight,  however  cold  and  damp  the  air 
may  be.  They  are  fond  of  having  party-baths,  like 
the  old  Romans,  and  may  be  seen  in  such  numbers 
as  to  remind  one  of  a  swarm  of  bees;  hither  and 
thither  they  dart,  in  their  rapid  flight,  dipping  here 


Humming-birds  are  most  at  home  among  the  orchids  of  the  tropics,  and  are  as 
varied  in  form  and  colour  as  are  the  orchids  themselves 


BIRDS  AND  THEIR  PARLOURS    163 

and  there  into  the  water  with  their  feet  and  breasts, 
and  repeating  the  act  until  their  plumage  is  thor- 
oughly cleansed.  When  they  have  completed  their 
dainty  toilettes,  these  beautiful  little  winged-elves 
go  forth  upon  their  daily  duties  amid  the  flowers. 
And  at  the  end  of  the  day  they  often  gather  again 
to  refresh  themselves  with  another  dainty  dip  be- 
fore seeking  their  homes  for  rest. 

The  famous  saber-winged  humming-bird  is  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  of  bird  beings.  With  its 
brilliant  green  and  violet-blue  hues,  and  tail  of  black 
and  white,  it  is  more  like  some  brilliant  oriental 
jewel  than  a  bird.  This  little  fellow  bathes  in  the 
dew  that  collects  upon  the  leaves  of  trees.  Certain 
trees  that  hold  the  moisture  in  their  foliage  become 
dainty  bathing  resorts,  and  in  the  early  morning 
hours  they  are  often  filled  to  capacity. 

To  enter  into  the  habits  and  different  charac- 
teristics of  these  marvellous  creatures  would  require 
a  book  in  itself.  It  is  enough  to  know  that  their 
idea  of  cleanliness  and  beauty  is  unsurpassed. 
When  flying  through  the  sunlight  they  sparkle  as 
if  they  were  covered  with  brilliant  jewels  and  gems 
of  gold.  The  American  Indians  with  their  charac- 
teristic rugged  poetry  of  thought,  called  them  "the 
hairs  of  the  sun." 

The  topaz-throated  humming-bird  is  among  the 


164    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

largest  known.  There  are  two  species — the  crim- 
son, of  Guinea  and  the  lower  Amazon,  and  the 
fiery,  of  the  northern  tributaries  of  the  Amazon. 
The  fire-tailed  or  comet  humming-birds  are  of  two 
species,  and  their  native  homes  are  in  Peru,  Bolivia, 
and  the  Argentine  Republic.  "The  tails  of  the 
males  blaze  with  the  radiance  of  flashes  of  flame,  and 
their  ruby  backs,  luminous  green  throats,  and  un- 
der surface  present  a  tout  ensemble  unparalleled  in 
the  range  of  ornithology." 

It  is  claimed  that  many  of  these  jewel-like  crea- 
tures, especially  the  smallest — which  is  of  a  rich 
violet  colour  and  the  size  of  a  bee — bathe  in  nectar 
in  the  cups  of  flowers.  Imagine  this  tiny  being, 
with  a  throat  and  neck  the  colour  of  a  brilliant  ame- 
thyst, changing  into  various  shades  of  purple  and 
brown,  bathing  in  a  large  red-cupped  flower  of 
nectar!  Or  a  superb  specimen  with  a  sky-blue 
crown  upon  its  head,  a  brilliant  scarlet  throat, 
golden-green  back,  head,  and  tail,  plunging  into  a 
large  flower-like  bowl  of  crystal  water  for  a  bath! 
Surely  no  words  can  convey  an  idea  of  such  delicate 
beauty. 

"Of  all  animated  beings,"  says  Buffon,  "they  are 
the  most  fairy-like  in  form,  the  most  brilliant  in 
colouring.  Our  precious  stones  and  metals,  polished 
by  the  hand  of  art,  are  as  nothing  in  comparison 


BIRDS  AND  THEIR  PARLOURS    165 

with  these  rich  jewels  of  Nature.  Song  excepted, 
she  has  showered  upon  them  all  her  gifts  collec- 
tively, gifts  which  are  accorded  to  other  birds 
singly.  Lightness,  vivacity,  speed,  grace,  and  bril- 
liant colours,  have  all  been  bestowed  upon  these  tiny 
favourites.  Every  jewel  sparkles  in  their  plumage 
— plumage  untarnished  by  the  dust  of  earth,  as, 
all  their  life  long,  they  seldom  touch  the  ground; 
they  dwell  evermore  in  the  air,  fluttering  from 
flower  to  flower,  the  freshness  and  brightness  where- 
of belong  to  them  alone;  they  sip  the  nectar,  and 
inhabit  only  those  heavenly  zones  where  blossom 
follows  upon  blossom  in  an  everlasting  spring." 

Only  a  rich  imagination  can  think  of  a  human 
queen  with  such  luxury  and  beauty;  and  no  beauty 
parlour  can  boast  of  such  perfumed  baths  as  these 
divine  sun-gems  find  conveniently  at  hand  in  every 
garden  and  tropical  forest  in  the  regions  where  they 
live.  One  is  reminded  of  the  English  poet's  words : 

"Bright  birds  of  the  sun,  how  has  every  hue 
Of  the  sky  and  the  rainbow  been  lavished  on  you! 
Where  are  the  robes  that  a  monarch  enfold, 
Compared  with  your  feathers  of  silver  and  gold? 
Ye  are  richly  arrayed,  without  toil  and  care, 
And  the  flower-bells  furnish  your  daily  fare: 
A  feast  every  morning  before  you  is  spread; 
Ye  are  gloriously  clothed,  and  luxuriously  fed. 
And  ye  drink  the  pure  nectar,  and  cry  te-re, 
As  ye  fly  from  the  flower  to  the  blossoming  tree. 


Swift  as  an  arrow  ye  hasten  along: 

Now  ye  are  gleaming  the  lilies  among; 

Now  through  the  gardens  of  roses  you  speed; 

Now  on  the  lofty  magnolias  you  feed. 

Gay  birds  of  the  sun !    Your  plumes  are  as  bright 

As  if  you  had  bathed  in  his  fountain  of  light. 

It  is  lovely  indeed  your  wings  to  behold, 

All  gleaming  and  glistening  with  azure  and  gold, 

While  ye  drink  the  pure  nectar,  and  cry  te-re, 

As  ye  fly  from  the  flower  to  the  blossoming  tree." 

Nature  has  provided  all  birds  with  the  means  of 
keeping  their  plumage  in  the  best  condition,  and 
many  birds  have  adapted  themselves  well  to  the  pro- 
cess; while  some  are  possessed  of  additional  equip- 
ment in  the  art.  Every  bird  has  a  constant  supply 
of  excellent  oil  for  toilette  use,  which,  by  means  of 
the  bill,  is  distributed  about  the  body  in  proportion 
to  the  size  and  importance  of  the  feathers.  Two 
tiny  tanks  of  the  fluid  are  located  on  the  bird's  body 
just  above  the  rump,  and  whenever  a  little  oil  is 
needed  for  polishing  up  a  shabby  feather  or  dusting 
a  plume,  all  the  bird  has  to  do  is  to  pinch  them 
with  his  beak,  and  out  comes  the  loveliest  hair-oil 
imaginable ! 

Water-birds  are  especially  dependent  upon  the 
oil  for  their  plumage;  in  fact,  their  very  lives  de- 
pend upon  it.  In  order  to  keep  their  bodies  dry 
and  warm  the  feathers  are  kept  heavily  oiled  so  as 


BIRDS  AND  THEIR  PARLOURS    167 

to  present  a  water-proof  surface.  It  is  likewise 
necessary  that  the  feathers  be  well  laid  in  place 
that  the  water  might  be  kept  out.  It  is  also  true 
that  such  a  surface  enables  the  bird  to  glide  more 
easily  through  the  water.  Any  disarrangement 
might  cause  a  leak,  and  the  bird  would  be  chilled 
almost  fatally.  This  necessitates  great  care  on  the 
part  of  these  birds  in  the  condition  and  treatment  of 
their  feathers,  since  any  mishap  of  the  kind  would 
put  an  end,  at  least  for  the  time  being,  to  their 
natural  pursuits,  which  means  in  most  cases  their 
means  of  livelihood. 

Ducks  and  cormorants  employ  their  long  necks  to 
aid  them  in  their  toilette;  they  find  them  excellent 
brushes.  After  oiling  their  plumage,  they  rub 
their  smooth  necks  over  it  until  each  feather  is 
straightened  and  polished  to  perfection. 

It  is  most  interesting  to  watch  a  group  of  cor- 
morants make  their  toilette  after  they  have  returned 
to  their  haunts  from  fishing.  They  sit  for  a  long 
time  with  wings  half-spread,  so  as  to  dry  the  feath- 
ers most  quickly.  In  this  position  they  present  a 
peculiar  sight;  one  might  think  them  angry,  or 
frightened,  if  the  general  poise  of  the  body  did  not 
belie  the  assumption.  When  their  feathers  are  dry 
enough  to  retain  oil,  they  carefully  dress  each 
feather. 


168    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

The  motmot  of  Central  America  possesses  an  ex- 
tra equipment  for  his  toilette  in  a  very  peculiarly 
formed  beak,  edged  like  a  saw,  and  this  he  uses  to 
advantage.  It  is  especially  convenient  for  his  bar- 
ber work.  He  deliberately  trims  the  feathers  of  his 
tail  to  the  predominating  style  of  his  race.  His 
barbering  is  so  neatly  done  that  to  the  uninitiated 
his  shapely  feathers  are  supposed  to  have  grown  in 
their  attractive  lines;  but  it  is  all  his  own  skilful 
work.  And  the  rest  of  his  toilette  is  made  with 
equal  art  and  pains. 

The  night- jar  and  the  heron  possess  still  another 
tool  on  the  claw  of  the  third  toe,  which  is  toothed 
or  serrated,  and  this  they  use  most  efficiently  in  the 
care  of  their  plumage.  It  is  a  real  comb,  being 
roughly  the  same  shape. 

One  of  the  strangest  of  all  birds  is  the  hoatzin,  a 
native  of  the  Amazon  Valley.  This  creature  has 
thumbs,  which  are  used  not  only  in  making  its  toi- 
lette, but  in  climbing  as  well.  The  hoatzin  is  the 
"missing  link"  between  birds  and  reptiles.  Its 
wings  were  originally  forefeet  or  hands,  like  those 
of  the  lizard,  and  to-day  its  wing  joint  still  has  a 
thumb  and  two  fingers.  By  means  of  these  it  climbs 
around  in  trees,  and  rarely,  if  ever,  comes  to  the 
ground.  It  is  usually  found  in  low  bushes  or  trees 


THE  AMERICAN"  CROSSBILL  OX  A  TWIG  THAT  SETS  HIM  OFF  TO  THE  GREATEST 

ADVANTAGE 


BIRDS  AND  THEIR  PARLOURS    169 

along  streams  in  the  regions  of  its  home,  and  gen- 
erally flocks  of  twenty  or  thirty  consort  together. 

"In  the  early  morning  or  in  the  late  afternoon," 
says  Quelch,  "they  (hoatzins)  will  be  seen  sitting 
in  numbers  on  the  plants,  while  toward  the  middle 
of  the  day,  as  the  fierce  heat  of  the  sun  increases, 
they  betake  themselves  to  shelter,  either  in  the  dense 
recesses  of  the  growth,  or  among  the  individual  trees 
of  denser  foliage,  or  among  the  tangled  masses  of 
creeping  and  climbing  vines,  along  the  very  edge 
of  the  water.  Late  in  the  evening,  after  feeding, 
they  will  be  seen  settling  themselves  down  in  suit- 
able places  for  the  night." 

These  strange  climbers  feed  almost  exclusively 
upon  the  leaves  of  trees  and  shrubs.  One  of  their 
favourite  foods  is  the  leaf  of  an  arum,  which  gives 
to  their  flesh  a  terrible  odour.  Hence  they  have 
earned  for  themselves  the  title  of  "skunk  birds"  or 
"stink  birds."  This  odour  seems  very  pleasing  to 
the  hoatzins,  and  it  is  perhaps  their  favourite  per- 
fume !  At  any  rate  it  serves  to  protect  them,  as  no 
man  or  animal  cares  to  come  in  contact  with  it.  In 
making  their  toilette  they  thus  have  the  double  ad- 
vantage of  fingers  and  perfume. 

Herons,  bitterns,  the  tinamous,  and  some  hawks 
are  the  possessors  of  powder-purr's.  Patches  of 
feathers  that  crumble  into  fine  dust  are  located  upon 


their  bodies.  Herons  have  four  great  patches,  two 
on  the  breast  and  two  on  the  thighs;  but  in  some 
birds  they  are  scattered  over  the  entire  body.  That 
this  condition  is  of  aid  in  the  drying  process  is  highly 
probable,  although,  as  yet,  it  has  not  been  proved. 

All  birds  of  any  part  of  the  earth  have  methods 
and  processes  by  which  they  maintain  their  beauty 
and  the  usefulness  of  their  feathers  at  the  highest 
possible  standard.  There  is  no  one  who  has  not 
witnessed  many  of  these  various  ablutions  among 
the  birds  of  this  or  that  particular  region,  and  many 
interesting  tales  are  told  about  them.  All  species 
accept  the  necessity  and  desirability  of  beautifying 
themselves,  and  proceed  with  the  art  according  to 
their  abilities  and  modes  of  life. 

Perhaps  as  time  goes  on  bird  life  will  take  on  new 
phases,  and  conditions  not  yet  dreamed  of  may 
make  it  imperative  that  those  birds  which  survive 
advance  still  farther  in  the  details  of  their  toilettes. 
If  ever  such  changes  occur  nature  will  provide  the 
means  for  more  elaborate  methods,  and  the  mental- 
ity of  birds — which,  it  is  the  author's  belief,  already 
far  exceeds  the  generally  accepted  estimate — will 
meet  the  new  conditions  with  the  same  intelligence 
and  insight  with  which  they  have  faced  the  different 
adjustments  of  life  since  first  their  race  began.  All 
necessities  they  have  met  and  overcome  in  their  way 


BIRDS  AND  THEIR  PARLOURS    171 

and  according  to  their  needs — which  is,  after  all, 
the  extent  of  man's  boasted  accomplishments.  And 
birds  will  always  live  and  thrive,  despite  local  ca- 
lamities, and  the  extinction  of  certain  species. 

In  form  and  structure  they  may  change,  the 
spread  of  civilisation  may  rob  them  in  time  of  all 
their  wild- wood  haunts,  but  their  race  will  live  on; 
and  as  man  progresses  in  knowledge  and  under- 
standing it  will  be  a  simple  matter  for  them  to  ad- 
just themselves  to  his  proximity.  But  no  change, 
however  gradual,  due  entirely  to  environment,  could 
reduce  the  sum  of  beauty  among  the  birds;  and 
that  which  they  have  they  will  care  for  and  nurture, 
both  because  of  necessity  and  because  of  that  rare 
esthetic  taste  which  they  possess  in  a  hardly  less 
degree  than  man  himself. 


CHAPTER  XI 

AVIATORS 

High  on  the  cliffs,  down  on  the  shelly  reef, 
Or  gliding  like  a  silver-shaded  cloud 
Through  the  blue  heaven,  the  mighty  albatross 
Inhaled  the  breezes,  sought  his  humble  food, 
Or,  rvhere  his  kindred  like  a  flock  reposed, 
Without  a  shepherd,  on  the  grassy  donrns, 
Smoothed  his  white  fleece,  and  slumbered  in 
their  midst. 

— Montgomery. 

AVIATION  is  a  new  art  in  the  human  world, 
but  with  birds  it  is  as  old  as  the  hills,  and  it 
is  their  most  important  accomplishment.  All  birds 
either  fly  or  have  been  fliers  at  some  time  in  their 
race  history;  many  can  scarcely  walk  at  all  on  the 
ground,  and  consequently  spend  their  lives  among 
the  clouds — coming  to  earth  only  long  enough  to 
rear  their  young.  They  are  kings  indeed,  and  have 
that  great  gift — flight — which  nature  has  denied 
even  to  man. 

Of  all  bird-aviators  those  of  the  sea  are  of  neces- 
sity most  successful  in  sustained  flight.     Nothing  so 

172 


AVIATORS  173 

adds  to  the  joy  of  a  sea-voyage  as  these  children  of 
the  wind  and  billows,  who  range  in  size  from  the 
tiny  petrels  to  the  mighty  albatross.  This  gigantic, 
gull-like  bird  presents  an  interesting  appearance, 
with  its  "powerful  body,  short,  thick  neck,  large 
head,  extraordinarily  long,  narrow  wings,  short, 
forked  tail,  a  very  sharp  trenchant  beak  .  .  .  and 
plumage  very  close  and  thick."  Save  for  its  black 
pinions,  it  is  entirely  white,  and  the  contrast  gives 
it  a  striking  and  dignified  beauty.  Its  beak  is  car- 
nation-red, with  a  yellow  tip;  its  feet  are  reddish, 
and  its  eyes  are  brown,  surrounded  by  a  rainbow  of 
green.  From  tip  to  tip  of  its  wings  an  albatross 
often  measures  ten  feet. 

The  albatross  will  follow  a  vessel  on  the  ocean 
for  several  days  without  once  alighting  on  the 
water.  Its  flight  is  indeed  majestic.  With  out- 
stretched wings  it  sails  over  the  sea,  now  high,  now 
low,  wheeling  until  its  wings  are  at  an  angle  with 
the  horizon,  then  suddenly  descending  until  it  all 
but  touches  the  water — it  is  the  master  aviator  of 
the  world!  At  times  it  seems  to  float  through  the 
air  motionless,  except  for  the  quick  glances  of  its 
eyes  and  an  occasional  movement  of  its  head. 

"Tranquil  its  spirit  seemed  and  floated  slow; 
Even  in  its  very  motion  there  was  rest." 


174    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

Bennett  says:  "It  is  delightful  to  watch  the  glor- 
iously graceful  movements  of  this  splendid  bird, 
which  seem  to  impel  it  through  the  air  as  if  by  some 
hidden  force — for  one  can  scarcely  perceive  the 
slightest  motion  of  the  wings  after  the  bird  has  once 
gotten  under  way — and  one  sees  it  rise  and  fall,  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  lead  to  the  belief  that  these 
movements  are  brought  about  by  some  unknown 
power." 

The  albatross,  like  the  petrel,  flies  both  day  and 
night,  and  seems  rarely  to  need  rest.  It  continu- 
ally watches  the  waves  for  food;  everything  of  an 
animal  nature  which  is  thrown  from  a  ship  is  hastily 
gorged  down.  Carcasses  of  dead  whales,  or  large 
fish,  are  always  surrounded  by  these  great  scaven- 
ger-aviators. When  a  whale  is  being  "flensed''  they 
actually  become  so  bold  as  to  snatch  pieces  of  blub- 
ber from  the  sailors'  hands,  apparently  having  lost 
all  fear.  In  addition  to  the  food  they  receive  from 
ships,  they  feed  upon  jelly-fish,  cuttle-fish,  and  vari- 
ous small  aquatic  animals. 

In  its  long  journeys  over  the  sea  in  search  of 
food,  the  peculiar  formation  of  the  wings  gives  this 
bird  an  advantage  over  all  rivals.  "The  albatross 
has,"  says  Mr.  Lucas,  "that  type  of  wing  which  best 
fulfils  the  conditions  necessary  for  an  aeroplane, 
being  long  and  narrow,  so  that  while  a  full-grown 


AVIATORS  175 

albatross  may  spread  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  from 
tip  to  tip,  its  wings  are  not  more  than  nine  inches 
wide.  The  spread  of  wings  is  gained  by  the 
elongation  of  the  inner  bones  of  the  wing,  and  by 
increasing  the  number  of  secondaries,  there  being 
about  forty  of  these  feathers  in  the  wing  of  the 
albatross." 

To  those  who  live  upon  the  waters  one  of  the 
greatest  marvels  is  the  power  of  flight  of  these  great 
birds.  They  never  tire  night  and  day;  they  "wheel 
round  and  round,  and  forever  round  the  ship — now 
far  behind,  now  sweeping  past  in  a  long  rapid  sur- 
vey like  a  perfect  skater  on  an  uneven  field  of  ice. 
There  is  no  effort ;  watch  as  closely  as  you  will,  you 
rarely  or  never  see  a  stroke  of  the  mighty  pinion. 
The  flight  is  generally  near  the  water,  often  close 
to  it.  You  lose  sight  of  the  bird  as  he  disappears 
in  the  hollow  between  the  waves,  and  catch  him 
again  as  he  rises  over  the  crest;  but  how  he  rises 
and  whence  comes  the  propelling  force  is  to  the  eye 
inexplicable.  He  merely  alters  the  angle  at  which 
the  wings  are  inclined;  usually  they  are  parallel  to 
the  water  and  horizontal;  but  when  he  turns  to 
ascend  or  makes  a  change  in  his  direction,  the  wings 
then  point  at  an  angle,  one  to  the  sky,  the  other 
to  the  water." 

Perhaps  the  commonest  of  all  sea-aviators  are  the 


176    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

sea-swallows  and  terns.  These  daring  little  people 
of  the  air  live  on  the  waste  from  ships  and  various 
water  insects  and  animals.  Their  wings  seem  never 
to  grow  weary,  and  if  they  should,  the  tiny  crea- 
tures have  but  to  settle  on  a  wave  while  it  rocks  and 
lulls  them  to  sleep  amid  the  swelling  foam  and  lace- 
like  seaweed  of  the  ocean.  Distance  has  no  terror 
for  them.  If  one  suddenly  desires  to  fly  home  to 
distant  Fundy  or  to  a  nameless  craig  near  Cape 
Horn,  it  rises  like  a  wind-blown  feather  and  disap- 
pears like  a  vision  in  the  distance  1  How  clumsy 
are  our  airships,  with  their  awkward  planes,  com- 
pared to  the  dainty  wings  and  the  lightning-like 
rapidity  of  motion  which  whirls  this  little  fellow 
over  thousands  of  miles  of  trackless  water  1 

The  frigate  bird  is  one  of  the  most  powerful  aero- 
nauts, and  might  be  termed  the  "Zeppelin"  of  the 
air.  He  can  dive  from  the  clouds  with  astounding 
rapidity,  and  is  quite  as  much  at  home  on  the  water 
as  in  the  air.  His  body  is  no  larger  than  a  raven's, 
yet  his  wings  are  the  most  remarkable,  and  com- 
paratively the  longest  of  any  of  the  aviators.  His 
beak  is  exceedingly  sharp  and  strong,  winning  for 
him  the  title,  "the  eagle  of  the  sea."  Because  of 
his  terrible  talons,  he  is  the  most  dreaded  of  birds. 
He  soars  among  the  clouds  like  a  giant  airship,  and 
drops  like  a  cannon-ball  upon  his  helpless  prey. 


AVIATORS  177 

Michelet,  in  speaking  of  one  of  these  aviators, 
said:  "It  is  the  little  ocean  eagle,  first  and  chief  of 
the  winged  race,  the  daring  navigator  who  never 
furls  his  sails,  the  lord  of  the  tempest,  the  scorner 
of  all  peril — the  man-of-war  or  frigate-bird.  .  .  . 
(He)  is  virtually  nothing  more  than  wings: 
scarcely  any  body — barely  as  large  as  that  of  the 
domestic  cock — while  his  prodigious  pinions  are  fif- 
teen feet  in  span.  The  great  problem  of  flight  is 
solved  and  overpassed,  for  the  power  of  flight  seems 
useless.  Such  a  bird,  naturally  sustained  by  such 
supports,  need  but  allow  himself  to  be  borne  along. 
The  storm  bursts ;  he  mounts  to  lofty  heights,  where 
he  finds  tranquillity  .  .  .  literally,  he  sleeps  upon 
the  storm.  When  he  chooses  to  oar  his  way  seri- 
ously, all  distance  vanishes:  he  breakfasts  at  the 
Senegal;  he  dines  in  America." 

This  marvellous  aviator  travels  day  and  night 
without  apparent  weariness.  He  seems  to  rest 
upon  the  winds,  fearing  nothing,  not  even  the 
tyrants  of  the  air — the  condors  and  pygargues! 
Thus  we  see  this  huge  airship  floating  in  the  heav- 
ens, while  far  below  him  are  the  snow-white  sea 
swallows  playing  in  the  waves.  And  one  is  re- 
minded of  the  poet's  words : 

"Wings  to  soar  above  life; 
Wings   to   soar   beyond   death!" 


178    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

Among  the  most  daring  of  the  aviators  may  be 
ranked  the  petrels.  These  graceful  fliers  seem  to 
inhabit  the  sea  as  well  as  the  land.  There  are  sev- 
eral species  of  the  giant  petrel,  which  travels  to  the 
ice-cliffs  of  the  South.  The  stormy  petrel  is  the 
smallest  web-footed  bird  known.  Its  powers  of 
flight  and  endurance  are  almost  unthinkable ;  it  can 
brave  the  fiercest  storm,  gliding  in  and  out  among 
the  troughs  made  by  the  waves.  It  is  one  of  Nep- 
tune's flowers  of  the  ocean — an  aviator  of  the  sea. 

Powerful  as  are  the  flights  of  the  larger  aviators 
of  the  bird  world,  yet  they  are  not  more  so  in  pro- 
portion than  that  of  many  of  the  smallest  and 
daintiest  of  fliers,  such  as  the  gold-crests,  whose  tiny 
bodies  appear  like  miniature  fluffs  of  feathers,  each 
weighing  about  seventy  grains.  The  ox-eye  tit  is 
often  found  from  700  to  900  miles  from  land,  and 
numerous  small  birds  cross  the  Atlantic. 

But  these  are  not  ocean  aviators  in  the  true  sense 
of  the  word.  Perhaps  the  shearwaters,  which  are 
supposed  to  breed  in  the  far  Antarctic  regions,  are 
allies  of  the  petrels,  and,  like  them,  nest  in  burrows 
or  caves,  are  the  best  known  ocean  wanderers.  As 
soon  as  the  young  are  able  to  fly,  they  are  attracted 
to  the  sea — and  roam  over  the  southern  waters, 
then  across  the  equator,  and,  according  to  the  old 
sailors,  land  in  Nova  Scotia.  During  the  spring 


AVIATORS  179 

and  summer  they  are  numerous  over  the  northern 
waters,  but  when  autumn  comes  on  they  suddenly 
disappear  toward  the  Southland. 

The  shearwaters  are  divided  into  two  or  three 
distinct  varieties.  The  "greater  shearwaters"  are 
usually  the  more  abundant  in  number;  while  the 
"sooty  shearwaters"  are  not  only  fewer,  but  seem 
not  to  rank  in  the  aristocratic  class  of  their  cousins. 
Between  them  there  is  a  distinct  colour  line,  and 
when  the  aristocrats  are  sailing  over  certain  waters, 
the  darker  cousins  are  not  to  be  seen ;  and  vice  versa. 

The  ocean  aviators  are  as  numerous  as  they  are 
varied  in  size  and  colour.  Their  laws  are  known 
only  to  themselves,  for  no  man  has  ever  followed 
them  in  all  their  strange  wanderings.  They  have 
learned  to  fly  in  the  face  of  the  most  raging  storm, 
and  manage  their  apparently  frail  air-ship  bodies 
to  the  despair  of  human  fliers. 

Nothing  is  more  picturesque  than  a  white-winged 
fleet  of  them.  In  the  Arctic  and  Antarctic  soli- 
tudes they  cover  the  waters  like  so  many  living 
flowers.  Some  go  about  in  circles  like  mammoth 
water-lilies,  spread  upon  the  white-capped  waves; 
others,  with  pearly  mantles,  swim  in  long  lines; 
again  they  herd  together  like  a  profusion  of  flow- 
ers in  a  bowl  of  white  foam,  while  the  air  above  is 
star-like  with  myriads  of  sea-gulls.  A  lover  of  na- 


180    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

ture  soon  becomes  spellbound  at  such  a  vision  of 
aviators  who  so  suddenly  can  transform  their  ma- 
chines into  diving  submarines! 

Not  the  least  interesting  among  water-aviators 
are  Franklin's  rosy  gulls.  These  birds  have  a  black 
hood  over  the  head  and  the  upper  part  of  the  neck, 
trimmed  in  pearl-grey,  and  the  under  portions  of 
their  bodies  are  white  with  a  rose  tint.  They  are 
found  only  in  the  West,  where  they  roam  over  the 
prairies  of  North  Dakota  to  the  Arctic  Ocean  dur- 
ing the  breeding  season.  The  natives  refer  to  them 
as  "prairie  pigeons,"  and  they  make  a  beautiful 
sight  following  the  farmer  in  flocks  as  he  ploughs 
in  the  fields. 

How  such  delicate  machines  as  the  wings  and 
bodies  of  these  aviators  are  able  to  make  such  pro- 
digious flights  as  they  do  is  understood  only  after 
an  investigation  of  their  marvellous  mechanism. 
The  chief  muscles  are  those  which  control  the  wings 
and  legs.  Every  variety  of  bird  has  a  body  adapted 
in  the  most  efficient  manner  to  serve  the  purpose  of 
its  life.  Aviators,  of  course,  have  their  bodies  es- 
pecially suited  to  their  profession.  And  it  is  true 
that  "the  bird  is  a  masterpiece,  a  marvel  of  crea- 
tion." 

The  home  of  a  true  aviator  is  the  air.  In  it  he 
lives ;  that  which  he  controls,  he  is  still  governed  by. 


AVIATORS  181 

The  pelican  has  a  regular  air-pouch  in  his  breast, 
and  every  bone  in  his  body  is  filled  with  air.  In 
many  birds,  however,  only  two  bones  are  thus  filled 
with  air.  The  air  passed  through  the  bones  facili- 
tates respiration  under  varied  circumstances  and 
thus  aids  the  aviator  in  flight. 

The  aviator's  wings  are  made  in  a  wonderful 
way:  the  feathers  are  arranged  like  shingles  on  a 
roof,  one  overlapping  the  other.  They  are  so 
arched  as  to  give  a  convex  form  to  the  upper  part  of 
the  wing.  Dr.  Brehm  thus  describes  the  bird's 
movements:  "By  raising  the  pinion,  the  air  is  al- 
lowed to  pass  between  the  feathers,  while  in  its 
descent  they  offer  an  insuperable  resistance.  This 
partially  explains  the  fact  that  a  bird  always  either 
rises  with  each  stroke  of  the  wing,  or  keeps  at  the 
same  level,  and  is  never  in  the  least  depressed  by 
it.  The  forward  movement  is  attributable  to  the 
fact  that  all  strokes  of  the  pinion  do  not  fall  in  a 
perpendicular  direction,  but  slope  obliquely  down- 
ward from  the  front  toward  the  back.  By  this 
means  the  wing  is  so  canted  as  not  to  present  its 
surface  horizontally  to  the  air  on  rising,  but  rather 
to  cut  through  with  its  edge.  Moreover,  the  pres- 
sure of  the  pinion  downward  is  quite  equal  to  four 
times  that  of  the  upward  stroke :  this  is  proved  by  a 
simple  examination  of  the  respective  muscles.  The 


182    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

tail  serves  as  a  rudder,  and  is  bent  somewhat  in  an 
upward  direction  while  the  bird  is  rising,  and  in  a 
downward  one  in  its  descent;  in  turning  it  takes 
a  slanting  position.  When  soaring  or  circling,  the 
tail  alone  directs  the  course  of  flight,  while  the  posi- 
tion of  the  apparently  motionless  wings  determines 
the  greater  or  less  rapidity  of  the  same.  The  rela- 
tive rapidity  and  the  nature  of  the  flight  is  in  per- 
fect harmony  with  the  formation  of  the  wing  and 
the  construction  of  the  feathers.  All  birds  pos- 
sessing long,  narrow,  sharp-pointed  wings  and  close, 
smooth  plumage  are  rapid  fliers  in  a  straight  line, 
though  unable  to  diverge  from  their  course  with  the 
same  quickness  as  birds  with  shorter  and  rounder 
wings.  With  the  faster  fliers  the  wings  overlap 
the  tail,  while  with  those  which  can  turn  quickly  the 
tail  generally  exceeds  the  wings  in  length.  Good 
fliers  often  have  the  tail  forked,  although  the  con- 
trary sometimes  occurs  when  the  tail  has  long  centre 
feathers.  Large,  broad,  rounded  wings  are  well 
adapted  for  rising,  and  for  long  and  easy  soaring 
at  great  elevations;  but  they  render  descent  diffi- 
cult. Those  birds,  however,  which  carry  pointed 
wings  can  rush  with  them  half  expanded  from  a 
considerable  height.  Short  round  wings  render 
flight  more  difficult,  and  make  it  necessary  to  use 
very  rapid  and  strong  strokes.  The  greater  or  less 


AVIATORS  183 

amount  of  noise  made  in  flying  is  caused  partially 
by  the  hardness  or  softness  of  the  pinion-feathers, 
and  partly  from  the  relative  rapidity  or  slowness 
of  the  strokes  of  the  wings.  Quick  fliers  move 
with  a  rushing,  whistling  sound;  slower  fliers,  si- 
lently. The  former  motion  is  found  with  short- 
winged,  and  the  latter  with  broad-winged  birds." 

Thus  we  see  that  bird  aviators  are  adepts  at  every 
known  form  of  air  navigation,  from  that  which  is 
carried  on  by  regular  beats  of  the  wings  to  soaring, 
gliding,  hovering,  dropping,  plunging,  and  zigzag- 
ging. Storks,  eagles,  crows,  and  pelicans  are  skilled 
in  the  art  of  soaring,  while  examples  of  gliders  may 
be  found  among  the  pigeons  and  falcons.  Condors 
sometimes  soar  to  a  giddy  height  over  mountains, 
and  then  hover  in  the  clouds;  buzzards  are  also 
gifted  in  this  art.  The  most  skilled  in  the  art  of 
hovering  is  the  kestrel.  This  is  the  antithesis  of 
soaring.  While  hovering,  the  kestrel  remains  poised 
over  the  same  spot  apparently  motionless,  but  in 
fact  the  wings  are  beating  with  great  rapidity.  The 
humming-bird  is  a  professional  hoverer.  The  ever- 
glade kite  has  a  most  unusual  way  of  anchoring  it- 
self in  the  air.  It  has  learned  to  hover  motionless 
at  a  great  height,  with  the  exception  of  its  expanded 
tail,  which  moves  from  side  to  side.  This  enables 
it  to  remain  stationary  for  a  long  period. 


184    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

This  brief  review  of  the  winged  aviators  might 
be  prolonged  indefinitely,  as  each  species  and  fam- 
ily has  its  own  peculiarities  and  advantages  in  flight, 
always  suited  to  its  needs.  The  wisdom  of  Nature 
surpasseth  human  understanding,  and  nowhere  is 
this  more  vividly  shown  than  in  the  study  of  flying 
birds.  Their  equipment  is  based  upon  the  sound- 
est principles  of  science — principles  that  man  has 
acquired  only  in  very  recent  times. 

The  battles  in  the  air,  which  have  seemed  to  us 
to  surpass  all  else  in  all  the  field  of  romance,  are 
ancient  history  in  the  bird  world.  Every  day 
countless  struggles  are  fought  and  won  among 
birds,  like  our  modern  military  aeroplanes — singly 
or  in  squadrons.  .Who  has  not  seen  a  group  of 
small  birds  combine  to  attack  a  large  stranger,  who 
is  bent  upon  mischief  in  their  territory?  Sparrows 
in  great  numbers  often  attack  crows,  and  even 
mocking-birds ;  and  all  the  birds  of  a  large  area  will 
combine  to  destroy  a  common  enemy,  like  the  owl. 

Sometimes  even  a  great  black  eagle  will  be  at- 
tacked and  hounded  by  one  or  more  purple  martins ; 
these  tiny,  fearless  little  warriors  pursue  their 
enemy  day  after  day,  until  he  is  banished  from  their 
district.  The  feats  which  they  perform  in  these 
encounters  are  remarkable  even  to  those  versed  in 
such  matters.  One  of  them  will  rise  into  the  air 


AVIATORS  185 

and  drop  upon  the  back  of  the  eagle,  clinging  to 
him  like  a  leech  until  he  flees  in  sheer  desperation. 
Even  then  the  doughty  warrior  will  ride  his  enemy 
a  long  distance  from  the  battle-field  to  insure  his 
defeat  before  returning  to  his  fellows. 

From  birds  we  have  learned  much  that  we  know 
to-day  about  navigation  of  the  air,  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  from  them  we  will  continue  to  progress. 
But  it  is  reasonably  certain  that  we  will  never  be- 
come so  proficient  that  we  can  ever  look  with  con- 
tempt upon  their  knowledge  and  their  feats  as 
simple  or  unintelligent.  Theirs  is  the  skill  that  con- 
stant practice  brings,  theirs  is  the  knowledge  that 
Nature  gives,  and  only  Nature  can  give.  Man  in 
all  his  wonderful  works  and  inventions  can  never 
hope  to  equal  what  has  been  done  by  a  higher  hand 
than  his;  he  can  imitate,  but  never  can  he  create, 
or  surpass. 


CHAPTER  XII 

BIRD  FISHEBMEN 

See  how  he  stalks  along  the  pebbly  strand, 

With  keen  eye  matching  each  subaqueous  motion; 

Wading  knee-deep,  for  hours  he  trill  stand, 
Yet  as  for  taking  cold,  he  scorns  the  notion! 

He  needs  no  rod,  nor  line,  nor  fishing  book, 
Although  he  makes  his  living  on  the  water; 

He  catches  all  his  fish  without  a  hook, 

And  when  he's  'gotten  haud'  he  gives  no  quarter. 

—From  "The  Heron." 

IN  the  bird  world,  as  in  the  human,  there  are 
many  professional  fishermen.  On  the  other 
hand  there  are  numerous  birds  that  "go  fishing"  oc- 
casionally, apparently  for  the  sport  there  is  in  it. 
The  best  anglers,  however,  are  those  that  make  it 
a  profession.  Each  fisher  has  his  peculiar  and  fa- 
vourite method  of  fishing.  Some  fish  in  the  day- 
time, others  at  night;  some  fish  in  large  groups, 
while  others  go  singly.  The  implements  they  use 
are  as  varied  as  they  are  numerous,  and  the  kind 
of  fish  desired  largely  determines  the  place  and 

method  of  fishing. 

186 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  187 

The  kingfishers,  as  the  name  implies,  are  perhaps 
the  best  fishers  of  the  feathered  tribe.  This  group 
of  birds  is  divided  into  no  less  than  two  hundred 
species,  and  each  species  differs  somewhat  in  habits. 
Dr.  Sharpe  says  they  "are  alike  remarkable  for  their 
brilliant  colouration  and  for  the  variety  of  curious 
and  aberrant  forms  included  among  their  number." 
Their  plumage  is  unusually  brilliant  and  attractive, 
with  artistically  arranged  colour  schemes  in  the  pat- 
terns. 

These  fishers  feed  principally  upon  fish  which 
they  capture  alive.  Their  favourite  position  seems 
to  be  on  an  overhanging  bough,  a  projecting  dead 
log,  or  a  large  stone  from  which  they  keep  a  close 
watch  for  their  prey.  They  also  like  to  hang  over 
the  water  with  vibrating  wings  ready  to  plunge 
down  upon  any  luckless  fish  that  may  appear.  In 
speaking  of  the  belted  kingfisher,  Major  Bendire 
says:  "Every  bird  seems  to  have  favourite  perches 
along  its  range,  each  perhaps  quite  a  distance  away 
from  the  next,  to  which  it  flies  from  time  to  time, 
generally  uttering  its  well-known  shrill  rattle  in  do- 
ing so.  It  is  a  watchful,  rather  shy  bird,  sitting 
frequently  for  an  hour  at  a  time  in  the  same  posi- 
tion, occasionally  moving  its  head  backward  and 
forward,  watching  for  its  prey  as  a  cat  does  for  a 
mouse.  In  such  a  position  the  kingfisher  is  one  of 


188    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

the  most  charming  features  of  brook  and  pool. 
Should  an  unfortunate  fish  come  within  sight  at 
such  times,  our  lone  fisherman  is  at  once  alert 
enough,  craning  its  neck  and  looking  into  the  wa- 
ter, until  the  proper  moment  arrives  to  plunge 
downward,  head  first,  disappearing  out  of  sight,  and 
usually  emerging  with  a  wriggling  captive  firmly 
grasped  in  its  bill."  It  sometimes  happens  that  the 
kingfisher  stays  under  water  for  several  minutes, 
and  at  last  returns  to  the  surface  without  his  game. 
But  such  is  his  skill  and  perseverance  that  a  failure 
seldom  happens. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  kingfishers  is 
scientifically  known  as  Alcedo  ispida.  His  favour- 
ite hunting-grounds  are  along  the  streams  and 
ponds,  and  even  around  small  springs.  This  beau- 
tiful bird  is  much  sought  after  because  of  his  ex- 
quisite plumage.  His  head  and  neck  are  of  an 
emerald  green,  and  the  feathers  are  tipped  in  bluish- 
green,  while  his  back  is  greenish-blue — wavering  in 
colour  as  the  light  falls  upon  it.  The  lower  part 
of  the  kingfisher's  body  is  of  a  light  brown  mingled 
with  dark  red.  One  is  reminded  of  the  poet's 
words : 

"The  halcyon  flew  across  the  stream, 
And  the  silver  brooklet  caught  the  gleam; 


The  osprey  rarely  fishes  for  himself,  as  he  finds  it  easier  to  waylay  other  fishera 

and  rob  them 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  189 

The  glittering  flash  of  his  dazzling  wings 
Was  such  as  the  gorgeous  rainbow  flings, 
In  broken  rays  through  the  tearful  sky, 
On  a  sunny  eve  in  bright  July." 

Lack  of  space  forbids  mention  of  many  of  these 
interesting  fishers  of  the  bird  world,  but  the  laugh- 
ing kingfisher,  or  laughing  jackass,  deserves  special 
notice.  This  fisher  is  sometimes  known  as  bush- 
man's  clock,  and  a  clock  he  is  indeed!  For  in  the 
Bush  Wanderings  of  a  Naturalist  we  are  told  that : 
"About  an  hour  before  sunrise  the  bushman  is 
awakened  by  the  most  discordant  sounds,  as  if  a 
troop  of  friends  were  shouting,  whooping,  and 
laughing  around  him  in  one  wild  chorus ;  this  is  the 
morning  song  of  the  laughing  jackass,  warning  his 
feathered  mates  that  daybreak  is  at  hand.  At  noon 
the  same  wild  laugh  is  heard,  and  as  the  sun  sinks 
into  the  West,  it  again  rings  through  the  forest." 
This  bird's  home  is  in  Australia  and  New  Guinea. 

The  herons  are  fishers  of  great  talent  and  im- 
portance in  the  bird  world.  They  are  the  "still- 
fishers"  of  the  feathered  tribe,  and  frequent  the 
gloomy  marshes  of  deep  forests  or  shallow  streams, 
where  they  stand  silent  and  motionless  as  a  sphinx, 
ready  at  the  appearance  of  a  fish  to  transfix  him 
with  their  sharp,  dagger-like  beaks.  They  seem  to 


190    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

have  the  patience  of  Job,  and  will  wait  indefinitely 
for  their  prey. 

Although  there  are  many  species  of  herons,  and 
most  of  them  are  cosmopolitan  in  the  matter  of  dis- 
tribution, they  usually  inhabit  swamps,  marshes, 
and  occasionally  the  sea-coast.  All  these  birds 
have  many  characteristics  in  common.  In  speak- 
ing of  these,  Hudson  says:  "Two  interesting 
traits  of  the  heron  (and  they  have  a  necessary  con- 
nection) are  its  tireless  watchfulness  and  its  insa- 
tiable voracity;  for  these  characteristics  have  not, 
I  think,  been  exaggerated  even  by  the  most  sen- 
sational of  ornithologists.  In  other  birds  of  other 
genera,  repletion  is  invariably  followed  by  a  period 
of  listless  inactivity  during  which  no  food  is  taken 
or  required.  But  the  heron  digests  his  food  so 
rapidly  that,  however  much  he  devours,  he  is  always 
ready  to  gorge  again;  consequently  he  is  not  bene- 
fited by  what  he  eats,  and  appears  in  the  same  state 
of  semi-starvation  when  food  is  abundant  as  in 
times  of  scarcity.  .  .  .  All  other  species  that  feed 
at  the  same  table  with  the  heron,  from  the  little 
kingfisher  to  the  towering  flamingo,  become  exces- 
sively fat  at  certain  seasons,  and  are  at  all  times  so 
healthy  and  vigorous  that,  compared  with  them,  the 
heron  is  a  mere  ghost  of  a  bird." 

These  fishers,  because  of  their  beautiful  plumage, 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  191 

have  been  long  and  cruelly  persecuted.  Their 
habits  of  meeting  and  breeding  in  colonies  also  tend 
to  their  destruction,  as  a  heronry  is  usually  a  place 
of  wholesale  slaughter  when  found  by  plume-hunt- 
ers. Not  only  do  the  herons  congregate  as  a  dis- 
tinct family,  but  they  also  welcome  many  other 
varieties  of  birds  to  their  colonies.  In  the  Trinity 
River  bottoms  of  Texas  there  were,  a  few  years  ago, 
heronries  where  thousands  of  marsh  and  water  birds 
had  formed  a  little  city  for  the  purpose  of  rearing 
their  young. 

Baldamus  gives  a  remarkable  description  of  such 
a  scene.  He  says :  "A  sight  more  varied,  charming, 
or  beautiful,  would  be  hard  to  find  than  these  .  .  . 
marshes  with  their  feathered  inhabitants,  which  are 
as  remarkable  for  the  different  individual  habits 
of  each  species  as  for  the  diversity  of  their  form 
and  plumage.  Observe  the  most  striking  members 
of  this  community  of  marsh  and  water  birds,  and 
conceive  for  a  moment  these  snow-white,  straw-col- 
oured, grey,  black,  primatic,  gold  and  purple,  these 
green  and  red-headed,  crested,  eared,  long  and 
short-legged  creatures,  standing,  stalking,  running, 
climbing,  swimming,  diving,  flying;  in  short,  living 
masses,  striking  in  shape  and  colour,  standing  out 
in  bold  relief  against  the  bright  blue  heavens  and 
brilliant  green  of  the  meadows,  and  one  must  allow 


192     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

that  this  specimen  of  bird  life  in  the  swamp  is  a 
most  lovely  sight." 

The  noise  and  rush  around  these  "fishermen 
towns"  is  unbelievable  except  to  one  who  has  visited 
one  of  the  colonies.  Every  minute  of  the  day  num- 
bers of  fish  are  brought  by  the  parent  birds  to  their 
ever-hungry  young.  And  there  is  a  constant 
stench  in  the  air  caused  from  decaying  fish  and  dead 
birds  lying  about. 

Many  birds  have  become  so  proficient  in  fishing 
that  they  use  strategy  of  a  high  order  to  obtain  the 
best  results.  Among  these  the  pelicans  rank  high, 
and  their  tactics  show  a  marked  degree  of  intelli- 
gence if  not  of  forethought.  They  "go  fishing" 
not  singly  but  in  large  groups,  and,  forming  a  wide 
semi-circle,  drive  a  shoal  of  fishes  before  them  to 
the  shore.  At  the  opportune  moment,  when  the 
fishes  are  rounded  up,  they  set  to  catching  them  with 
the  hilarity  of  South  Sea  Islanders. 

At  times  they  wait  on  the  banks  for  hours  for  the 
fish  to  come  in.  Then  the  leader  arises  from  his 
sitting  position  and  slowly  wades  into  the  water, 
followed  by  his  flock  of  faithful  fishers.  They  swim 
out  far  into  the  water,  and  suddenly,  as  if  by  some 
unseen  sign  from  him,  they  wheel  around,  begin 
flopping  their  wings  and  rushing  in  line  toward  the 
shore.  Meanwhile  their  heads  are  lowered  into  the 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  193 

water,  and  their  great  beaks  are  spread  open  like 
so  many  fishing-nets.  By  the  time  they  reach  the 
shore,  each  bird  usually  has  his  immense  pouch 
well-filled  with  fish.  Cormorants  feed  in  the  same 
way,  with  the  exception  that  they  do  not  fish  quite 
so  successfully  in  droves.  It  seems  that  they  are 
not  so  skilled  in  united  efforts  as  are  the  pelicans; 
but  both  are  clever  fishermen,  and  employ  good 
tactics  in  their  work. 

The  grey  pelican,  according  to  Jerdon,  has  a 
strong  musky  odour,  which  some  naturalists  believe 
attracts  fishes,  and  for  this  reason  it  is  used  by 
fishermen  in  eastern  Bengal  to  aid  in  attracting  and 
catching  certain  species  of  fish.  The  numerous 
kinds  of  colisa  are  attracted  by  the  odour  and  oil 
of  these  birds  and  congregate  in  large  numbers 
where  they  are  present.  As  a  result  many  are 
caught.  Cormorants  also  have  a  musky  odour 
which  comes  from  their  oily  skins. 

These  birds  are  easily  tamed  and  trained,  and 
sometimes  used  successfully  by  the  Chinese  in  catch- 
ing fish.  Sir  George  Staunton,  in  his  Embassy  to 
China,  tells  how,  during  his  journey  to  Hau-choo- 
foo,  "the  Embassy  had  not  proceeded  far  on  the 
southern  branch  of  the  canal  when  they  arrived  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  place  where  the  .  .  .  famed  fish- 
ing-bird is  bred,  and  instructed  in  the  art  and  prac- 


194   THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

tice  of  supplying  his  owner  with  fish  in  great  abun- 
dance. On  a  large  lake  .  .  .  are  thousands  of 
small  boats  and  rafts  built  entirely  for  this  species 
of  fishery.  On  each  boat  or  raft  are  ten  or  a  dozen 
birds,  which,  at  a  signal  from  the  owner,  plunge 
into  the  water ;  and  it  is  astonishing  to  see  the  enor- 
mous size  of  fish  with  which  they  return.  .  .  .  They 
appeared  to  be  so  well  trained,  that  it  did  not  re- 
quire either  ring  or  cord  about  their  throats  to 
prevent  them  from  swallowing  any  portion  of  their 
prey,  except  what  the  master  was  pleased  to  return 
to  them  for  encouragement  and  food.  The  boat 
used  by  these  fishermen  is  of  a  remarkably  light 
make,  and  is  often  carried  to  the  lake  .  .  .  together 
with  the  fishing-birds,  by  the  men  who  are  to  be  sup- 
ported by  it." 

In  England,  at  one  time,  cormorants  were  kept 
and  trained  as  fishers,  in  the  same  way  that  falcons 
were  trained  to  hunt  in  the  air.  During  the  reign 
of  James  I,  the  practice  of  keeping  cormorants  be- 
came so  much  a  matter  of  course  that  the  office  of 
Master  of  the  Royal  Cormorants  was  established, 
and  one  John  Wood  was  the  first  to  hold  the  place. 
He  was  described  as  the  "Keeper  of  His  Majesty's 
cormorants,  ospreys,  and  otters" ;  evidently  the  lat- 
ter were  also  used  for  fishing.  The  King's  cormo- 
rant station  was  at  Westminster,  on  the  river.  It  is 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  195 

probable  that  the  sport  with  these  trained  fishers 
was  not  a  success,  as  it  was  never  developed  to  the 
degree  reached  by  falconry. 

It  was  a  custom  in  both  England  and  China  to 
tie  a  leather  strap  or  a  ring  around  the  lower  part 
of  the  cormorant's  neck  so  that  he  could  not  swal- 
low his  prey.  This  is  not  as  cruel  as  it  might  seem 
at  first  thought,  as  the  cormorant's  gullet  is  as 
elastic  as  a  rubber  bag  and  very  capacious.  So 
elastic  are  they  that  in  Greenland  the  fishermen  use 
the  gullets  blown  up  and  tied  at  each  end  for  float- 
ing bladders  to  support  their  fishing-nets. 

These  birds  are  as  cunning  as  foxes;  they  take 
great  delight  in  the  sport  of  fishing,  and  leave  no 
rock  or  cave  unexamined  for  prey.  The  fish  seem 
to  know  and  dread  them,  and  if  there  is  a  muddy 
bottom  to  the  water,  or  any  small  caves  near,  they 
try  to  hide  themselves  from  their  green-eyed  ene- 
mies. They  very  seldom  succeed,  however,  even 
though  they  should  jump  clear  out  of  the  water  in 
their  attempt  to  escape,  for  the  cormorants  are  ex- 
ceedingly quick,  and  usually  catch  the  fish  even  if 
it  has  escaped  at  first. 

If  the  fish  is  caught  in  the  wrong  position  for 
swallowing,  the  cormorant  tosses  it  into  the  air, 
like  a  professional  juggler  would  a  ball,  until  it  is 
properly  caught,  then  it  is  swallowed.  Sometimes 


196  THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

six  to  ten  of  these  are  taken  into  the  cormorant's 
pouch  before  it  is  called  into  the  boat  to  "cough 
up"  its  prey.  When  the  signal  is  given  by  the 
keeper  for  the  fisherbirds  to  disgorge,  each  quickly 
responds,  and  as  a  reward  is  given  one  or  two  fish 
to  eat.  When  cormorants  are  feeding  their  young, 
they  sometimes  open  their  mouths  and  allow  the 
babies  to  take  out  of  their  capacious  throats  what 
food  they  desire.  This  is  done  by  many  of  the 
fishing  birds. 

The  eagle,  so  far  as  is  generally  known,  appears 
to  be  only  an  indifferent  fisher,  yet  it  is  positively 
known  to  devour  fish  and  to  feed  them  to  its  young. 
This  regal  bird  may  be  seen  along  the  wild  stretches 
of  the  Atlantic  sea-board.  It  is  known  to  build  in 
proximity  to  the  sea,  but  it  is  rarely,  if  ever,  ob- 
served in  the  act  of  taking  fish  from  the  water. 

Its  method  is  one  of  robbery,  and  in  the  execu- 
tion of  its  plans  it  proves  itself  a  strategist,  if  not 
a  fisherman.  Indeed  its  cleverness  makes  it  un- 
necessary for  it  to  learn  the  fisherman's  trade.  Very 
often  an  osprey,  as  well  as  other  smaller  sea  birds, 
will  rise  from  the  water  with  a  glistening  fish  in  its 
talons,  only  to  be  overtaken  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye  by  an  eagle  that  has  been  watching  from  afar 
the  beautiful  white  fisher  at  work.  The  eagle  ap- 
pears as  from  nowhere,  and  the  chase  that  ensues  is 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  197 

likely  to  end  far  beyond  the  observer's  range  of 
vision.  On  some  occasions,  however,  it  may  end 
where  the  watcher  ion  the  beach  can  see  the  osprey's 
final  defeat.  It  will  drop  the  fish  when  the  eagle 
is  at  last  upon  it,  and  before  the  flashing  object  has 
fallen  more  than  a  few  feet,  the  eagle  has  seized  it. 
This  last  instant  in  the  pursuit  is  well  calculated, 
for  it  is  invariably  noticed  that  the  eagle  flies  lower 
than  the  osprey,  as  if  in  perfect  readiness  for  what 
it  knows  will  be  the  last  resort  of  its  victim. 

This  power  of  strategy  in  birds  is  not  confined  to 
fishers,  but  is  a  marked  gift  of  many  other  birds, 
especially  birds  of  prey.  The  hen-hawk  ranks  high 
in  this  respect.  It  seems  to  be  commonly  admitted 
that  the  hawk,  like  all  large  birds,  makes  a  landing 
either  on  the  ground  or  on  a  perch,  with  its  head 
to  the  wind,  but  what  seems  hitherto  to  have  escaped 
observation,  so  far  as  the  author  knows,  is  the  strate- 
gic finesse  with  which  this  bird  of  prey  avoids  cast- 
ing its  shadow  in  front  if  possible.  It  seems  to 
understand  perfectly  that  the  enemy  is  warned  of 
its  approach  in  this  way. 

The  author  once  watched  the  movements  of  a 
voracious  hawk  that  repeatedly  visited  a  hen-yard. 
Out  of  four  successful  raids,  three  were  ac- 
complished on  cloudy  days,  and  were  instantly  ef- 
fective, for  the  bird  came  and  went  with  the  greatest 


speed,  and  with  an  audacious  freedom  very  differ- 
ent from  its  behaviour  on  the  clear  day. 

When  the  sun  shown  it  would  circle  over  the 
neighbourhood  trying  one  angle  of  approach  after 
another.  Its  shadow  passing  over  the  ground  of 
the  farmyard  invariably  sent  the  hens  and  chickens 
to  cover.  Finally,  with  a  manoeuvring  which  could 
have  had  but  one  end  in  view — that  of  getting 
its  tell-tale  shadow  behind — the  bird  descended  like 
a  flash  of  lightning  and  was  off  in  an  instant  with  a 
struggling  chicken  in  its  claws. 

On  three  occasions  the  creature  went  through 
these  preliminary  movements;  and  if  it  were  not 
endowed  with  the  power  of  reasoning  out  its  rela- 
tion to  the  sun,  or  to  understand  why  its  shadow 
was  ahead  of  it  or  to  the  rear,  it  most  certainly  was 
possessed  of  patience  and  strategic  sense  to  a  re- 
markable degree  in  altering  its  angle  of  approach 
until  success  crowned  its  efforts. 

The  oyster-catchers  are  an  interesting  group  of 
bird  fishers.  While  they  do  not  display  any  par- 
ticular strategy  in  their  fishing,  they  do  work  as  a 
team  in  that  they  all  begin  and  stop  at  the  same 
time.  These  birds,  so  named  because  of  their  meth- 
ods of  feeding  on  clams  and  oysters,  are  famed  for 
their  ability  to  pry  open,  with  their  knife-like  bills, 
the  tightly  sealed  shells  of  their  prey.  There  are 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  199 

several  species,  the  European  living  along  the  coast 
countries  of  Europe  and  parts  of  Asia  and  Africa ; 
the  American  living  along  the  sea-coasts  of  the 
temperate  and  tropical  regions,  "from  Nova  Scotia 
and  Lower  California  to  Brazil  and  Patagonia." 
Occasionally  they  are  found  even  in  Greenland. 
They  choose  sandy  beaches  for  their  feeding- 
grounds,  and  conduct  their  foraging  in  large 
groups.  It  is  impossible  to  compute  the  amount  of 
shell-fish  they  consume,  but  it  is  admitted  to  be 
enormous. 

Another  shell-fisher  is  the  courlan.  He  is  a  large 
rail-like  bird,  with  a  powerful  beak  which  enables 
him  easily  to  open  shells.  He  wades  around  in 
shallow  water  and  hunts  for  mollusks  with  his  feet, 
and  when  he  finds  one  he  dashes  his  beak  between 
the  valves,  and  then  carries  his  prey  to  the  shore, 
where  he  prys  open  the  shell  and  eats  the  mollusk. 
Possibly  the  best  known  of  this  family  is  the  Flor- 
ida courlan,  often  called  the  crying-bird,  crazy- 
widow,  or  lamenting-bird.  It  is  so  named  because 
of  its  dark  plumage  and  its  habits  of  a  recluse;  at 
night  it  cries  in  the  most  pitiful  manner  like  some 
one  weeping  for  a  departed  friend. 

The  black  skimmers  are  a  strange  group  of  fish- 
ers who  live  along  the  low,  sandy  grounds,  and 
islands  of  our  coast  countries.  Their  methods  of 


200   THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

fishing  are  most  unusual,  owing  to  an  apparent  de- 
formity in  the  beak  which  enables  them  to  plough 
through  the  water  for  their  prey.  In  most  all  birds 
the  maxilla,  or  upper  part  of  the  bill,  is  unmovable, 
while  the  mandible,  or  lower  part  of  the  bill,  is  mov- 
able; the  skimmer,  however,  has  a  pair  of  scissor- 
like  blades,  which  are  very  sharp  and  movable.  The 
mandible  is  doubly  as  long  as  the  maxilla;  and  as 
the  skimmer  flies  very  near  the  surface  of  the  water, 
he  ploughs  through  the  waves  with  his  razor-like 
mandible,  where  the  fishes  swim,  and  whenever  a 
fish  appears  he  snatches  it  up  and  arises  from  the 
water  to  swallow  it  on  the  wing.  These  fishers  rest 
on  the  sand-banks  during  the  entire  day,  and  when 
night  comes  on  they  begin  to  chatter  among  them- 
selves like  so  many  old  fisherwomen,  and  after  much 
ado  go  forth  to  play  and  fish  among  the  waves. 

The  snake-birds  are  widely  distributed  in  the 
tropics  of  both  hemispheres,  and  their  skill  in  fish- 
ing is  their  greatest  asset.  Dr.  Brewer,  in  speaking 
of  the  American  species,  says:  "It  lives  principally 
upon  fish,  which  it  seizes  by  rapidly  darting  upon 
them  with  its  sharply  pointed  and  slightly  toothed 
beak.  In  this  movement  its  neck,  which  is  very 
long,  is  thrust  forward  with  the  force  of  a  spring, 
aided  by  the  muscles,  that  are  large  and  well-de- 
veloped in  the  lower  and  anterior  portion  of  the 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  201 

neck.  When  fishing,  the  Anhinga  stands  with  only 
its  head  and  neck  above  the  water ;  when  it  makes  a 
plunge  it  remains  a  long  while  beneath  the  surface ; 
and  when  it  rises  again,  the  long  and  undulating 
neck  has  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  serpent. 
...  It  is  said  to  be  the  very  first  among  the  fresh- 
water divers,  disappearing  beneath  the  surface  with 
the  quickness  of  thought,  moving  scarcely  a  ripple 
on  the  spot,  and  reappearing,  perhaps  with  its  head 
only  above  the  water  for  a  moment,  at  a  place  sev- 
eral hundred  yards  distant." 

The  ibises  are  wading  and  fishing  birds  closely 
allied  to  the  storks.  The  oldest  known,  and  by  far 
the  most  interesting,  is  the  sacred  ibis,  about  which 
cluster  so  much  romance  and  mythology.  It  was 
the  "emblem  of  Shott,  the  scribe  or  secretary  of 
Osiris,  whose  duty  it  is  to  write  down  and  recount 
the  deeds  of  the  deceased."  Many  mummified 
bodies  of  these  birds  are  found  among  the  ancient 
tombs  of  Egypt,  and  numerous  monuments  bear 
carvings  and  inscriptions  to  them. 

The  American  wood-ibis  is  renowned  for  its  fish- 
ing parties.  These  fishers  form  in  groups  of  sev- 
eral hundred  to  a  thousand,  and  march  like  a  troup 
of  soldiers  until  they  come  to  a  small  lake.  Then 
they  wade  into  the  water,  and  stir  up  the  mud  with 
their  feet  until  all  the  fish  rise  to  the  surface,  where 


202   THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

they  are  immediately  killed  by  the  strong  beaks  of 
the  birds.  Soon  the  top  of  the  water  is  covered 
with  dead  fish  and  frogs,  and  the  fishers  eat  to  their 
hearts'  content,  and  march  out. 

There  is  a  large  group  of  fishing  owls  and,  as 
might  be  expected,  they  fish  only  at  night.  The 
African  fish  owls  feed  chiefly  on  wild  guinea-fowl 
and  fish;  the  brown  fish  owl  of  India,  Ceylon,  and 
Burma,  lives  in  deep  forests  near  the  sea,  and  sleeps 
during  the  day.  But  when  night  comes  it  emerges 
from  its  dark  retreat  and  goes  in  search  of  crabs 
and  fish.  One  of  the  most  interesting  of  owls  is 
the  snowy  owl.  Its  home  is  in  the  Far  North,  and 
it  usually  feeds  on  wild  game,  but  occasionally  it 
goes  angling.  And,  unlike  other  owls,  this  it  does 
in  daytime  as  well  as  at  night.  Audubon  speaks  of 
seeing  one  of  these  northern  owls  fishing  near  Louis- 
ville,  Kentucky.  Evidently  the  owl  had  gone  South 
for  a  vacation. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  among  the  fishing 
birds  the  beak  is  used  as  a  shuttle,  hook,  shovel, 
gimlet,  auger,  pick,  hammer,  wedge,  spear  and  even 
a  needle !  With  such  an  assortment  of  fishing  tools 
it  is  easy  to  see  what  a  vast  number  of  fish  these 
birds  catch.  It  is  claimed  that  the  gannets  of  St. 
Kilda  consume  over  one  hundred  and  six  millions 
of  herrings  each  year.  There  are  hundreds  of  wa- 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  203 

ter  birds  that  get  their  living  by  fishing,  and  most 
of  these  are  industrious,  voracious,  swift,  and 
strong,  and  in  all  ways  well  equipped  for  their  pro- 
fession. 

Our  human  fishing  smacks  are  not  to  be  com- 
pared with  the  innumerable  bird  fleets  of  aerial, 
submarine,  and  surface  fishers.  They  catch  every 
kind  of  fish,  from  a  mackerel  to  a  mussel.  Many 
of  the  fresh-water  fishers  wade  and  search  the  rivers 
from  headwaters  to  the  sea,  and  cover  the  coast  re- 
gions of  the  whole  world. 

It  seems  that  no  form  of  sea  life  escapes  these 
voracious  bird  fishers.  Even  the  shell-fish,  whose 
shells  are  flinty  hard  and  securely  anchored  to  rocks 
at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  are  at  their  mercy.  One 
of  the  most  astonishing  things  of  nature  is  the  un- 
thinkable depth  to  which  the  scaup-duck,  the  scoter, 
and  the  eider  dive  beneath  fathoms  of  water  and 
crush  and  devour  the  hard-shelled  fish,  such  as  mus- 
sel and  whelk,  with  as  much  ease  as  a  thrush  would 
kill  a  small  beetle. 

Most  of  these  birds,  however,  are  especially 
equipped  for  their  particular  kind  of  fishing.  The 
scoters  and  the  eiders  have  a  strong  ridge  along 
the  upper  part  of  the  beak  which  gives  it  great 
strength  for  crushing  sea-shells,  and  notched  or  cor- 
rugated teeth  to  assist  in  holding  the  shells.  No 


204    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

weather  seems  to  disturb  them,  for  they  will  go  fish- 
ing in  the  stormiest  gale,  and  fish  indefinitely  be- 
neath the  waves,  paying  no  attention  to  the  weather 
above,  and  only  rising  occasionally  to  the  surface 
of  the  water  to  get  a  breath  of  air  before  diving 
again  to  their  delicate  submarine  dinners. 

These  birds,  with  their  wonderful  power  of  div- 
ing, and  the  ability  to  crush  hard  shells,  find  the 
matter  of  earning  a  living  very  easy.  As  the  mus- 
sels do  not  move,  the  scaups  and  eiders  can  dive 
to  a  bounteous  feast  whenever  they  are  hungry. 
On  the  other  hand,  many  of  the  fishing  birds,  such 
as  the  razor-bills,  gulls,  and  ducks,  which  have  to 
seek  out  and  pursue  their  prey,  are  somewhat  de- 
pendent upon  the  weather,  and  are  often  very  hun- 
gry and  half-starved  in  the  winter. 

In  their  fishing,  birds  are  the  best  of  sportsmen, 
as  they  stake  their  very  lives  upon  the  result,  and 
use  their  wits  with  astonishing  success  in  order  to 
insure  themselves  against  failure.  All  those  that 
live  entirely  by  fishing  have  peculiar  powers  which 
aid  them  in  the  capture  of  their  food,  and  this  is 
true  of  all  other  means  of  livelihood  in  the  bird 
world.  But  intelligence,  strategy,  and  sustained 
physical  effort  are  likewise  necessary,  and  every 
species  has  its  own  proportion  of  these  requirements 
to  face. 


BIRD  FISHERMEN  205 

To  some  birds  nature  has  given  an  easy  life,  to 
others  a  hard  one.  But  in  each  case  it  is  possible 
to  succeed  well  or  to  fail  miserably,  and  those  birds 
that  best  fulfil  the  tasks  imposed  upon  them  thrive 
best,  regardless  of  the  relative  difficulty  of  their 
existence.  Bird  and  beast  and  man  must  obey  with- 
out question  the  commands  of  Nature,  be  they  stern 
or  mild,  and  none  may  profit  by  avoiding  them. 
There  is  a  beautiful  lesson  in  the  example  of  the 
different  species  of  the  feathered  tribe,  which  waste 
no  time  in  trying  to  imitate  their  more  gifted  breth- 
ren, or  in  decrying  their  inferior  equipment,  but 
bravely  employ  those  talents  which  they  possess, 
and  succeed  by  their  own  efforts  and  in  their  own 
separate  ways. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

MIMICS  AND  VENTRILOQUISTS  AMONG  BIRDS 

The  moping  heron,  motionless  and  stiff, 
That  on  a  stone,  as  silently  and  stilly, 
Stood,  an  apparent  sentinel,  as  if 
To  guard  the  water-lily. 

— Thomas  Hood. 

AMONG  the  many  interesting  phases  of  bird 
life,  none  possesses  a  more  absorbing  inter- 
est than  that  relating  to  their  various  kinds  of 
mimicry.  Often  colour  serves  to  protect  a  bird  by 
enabling  it  to  escape  danger,  or  capture  its  prey. 
Many  birds  have  learned,  or  have  assumed  a  form 
of  mimicry  whereby  they  so  closely  imitate  their 
immediate  surroundings  as  to  pass  unnoticed  by 
their  enemies.  To  this  protective  resemblance  large 
groups  of  birds  owe  their  lives. 

In  the  far  north  the  ptarmigan,  during  the  winter 
season,  assumes  a  snow-white  garb,  so  that  against 
the  snow  it  is  unnoticeable,  but  as  the  summer 
months  come  on  it  assumes  the  exact  colouring  of 
the  grey  lichens  and  mosses  among  which  it  lives. 

206 


MIMICS  AMONG  BIRDS          207 

Numerous  northern  sea  gulls  have  a  similar  pro- 
tection; and  eveiy  sportsman  is  familiar  with  the 
protective  colouring  of  game  birds,  such  as  quail, 
grouse,  woodcock,  pheasants,  wild  turkeys,  and  a 
number  of  water  birds. 

Only  of  recent  years  has  man  learned  that  all 
variations  and  peculiarities  of  birds'  plumage  and 
eggs  have  special  significance.  At  one  time  these 
were  looked  upon  as  serving  for  ornament  only, 
and  with  no  other  cause  for  their  existence  than  a 
gratification  for  the  eye,  and  a  more  harmonious 
agreement  with  nature.  But  now  we  know  that 
many  birds  that  are  harmless  and  unprotected  are 
found  to  mimic  not  only  the  colour  of  their  inani- 
mate surroundings  but  sometimes  the  colour  and 
even  the  sound  of  dangerous  animals  and  birds. 

The  forms  of  mimicry  of  a  bird  are  largely  de- 
termined by  its  habitat  and  its  enemies.  The  bril- 
liant colourings  of  the  cock  pheasant  are  strikingly 
different  from  those  of  the  female  bird.  When  sit- 
ting on  the  nest,  her  plumage  is  exactly  like  the  sur- 
rounding brownish  grey  foliage.  The  same  is  true 
of  various  species  of  wild  ducks,  especially  the  mal- 
lard. The  chaffinch,  the  ring  ouzel,  the  stonechat, 
the  mocking-bird,  the  brown  thrush,  the  plover,  the 
curlew,  and  innumerable  others  so  closely  imitate 
their  surroundings  in  the  structure  of  their  nests 


208   THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

that  to  the  unskilled  eye  they  are  only  part  of  the 
landscape.  When  the  female  chances  to  be  the 
more  gaily  coloured,  then  the  duties  of  incubation 
fall  largely  to  the  male.  The  more  brilliant  the 
plumage  of  the  male,  the  less  he  remains  around  the 
nest  during  incubation.  This  partially  explains  the 
seeming  indifference  of  certain  male  birds  to  their 
family  duties. 

What  wonderful  appreciation  of  the  benefits  of 
protective  resemblance  is  seen  in  the  nest  of  the 
humming-bird!  It  is  placed  on  the  grey-green 
bough  of  an  apple  tree,  silvered  over  with  lichens, 
exactly  like  those  of  the  branch  on  which  it  rests, 
with  here  and  there  a  bit  of  green  moss  and  white 
paper  so  interwoven  as  to  appear  precisely  like  a 
cluster  of  flowers.  The  average  person  passes  it 
unnoticed.  I  have  seen  a  humming-bird's  nest  so 
skilfully  arranged  in  a  honeysuckle  vine  that  the 
deception  was  rendered  almost  complete.  Hum- 
ing-birds  themselves  are  so  brilliantly  coloured  that 
as  they  flit  in  and  out  among  nectared  flowers 
glistening  like  jewelled  leaves,  they  are  well  pro- 
tected, especially  if  the  foliage  is  thick. 

The  number  of  individuals  in  the  bird  kingdom 
belonging  to  an  imitated  species  is  greatly  in  ex- 
cess of  those  imitating ;  these  imitations  are  not  only 
of  plumage  and  colour,  but  voice  and  call  as  well. 


THE  PTARMIGAN  CHANGES  THE  COLOUR  OF  HIS  FEATHERS  TO  MATCH  THE 

BACKGROUND 


MIMICS  AMONG  BIRDS          209 

The  scream  of  the  hen-hawk  is  so  closely  imitated 
by  the  less-feared  blue- jay  that  he  can  completely 
terrify  a  group  of  small  birds  by  his  voice.  Crows 
imitate  other  bird-calls  very  well.  Sometimes  they 
seem  to  have  a  secret  method  of  calling  the  attention 
of  their  own  species  to  the  nest  of  a  harmless  bird 
which  they  wish  to  destroy ;  they  combine  in  a  vocal 
disguise  so  complete  in  its  simulation  that  even  the 
setting  bird  pays  no  attention  to  the  ruse.  As  a 
result,  she  pays  with  her  own  life. 

Passing  to  the  desert  regions  of  brown  sage- 
brush and  burning  sand,  we  meet  with  the  same 
phenomena  in  both  voice  and  colour.  The  plumage 
of  every  bird — whether  wild  turkey,  lark,  quail, 
sand  grouse,  chat,  sparrow,  or  owl — assumes  a  des- 
ert-colour. This  is  of  uniform  sand  shade. 

During  the  past  summer  I  found  a  redbird's 
nest  built  among  reddish-brown  roots  in  a  red-clay 
gulley.  The  upper  plumage  of  the  female  bird, 
when  sitting  on  her  eggs,  harmonised  so  perfectly 
with  her  surroundings  that  had  she  not  flown  off 
the  nest  at  my  near  approach,  I  would  possibly  not 
have  seen  her.  I  also  came  upon  a  wren  sitting  on 
a  nest  which  was  wonderfully  arranged  in  an  old, 
discarded  sausage-grinder,  so  that  it  closely  re- 
sembled the  colour  and  form  of  the  grinder  itself. 
One  happy  day  she  and  her  dainty  brood  of  five 


210   THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

youngsters  hopped  forth  from  the  rusty  instrument 
to  greet  the  world. 

The  term  "mimicry"  is  misleading  in  so  far  as  it 
conveys  the  idea  of  conscious  imitation,  especially 
as  regards  colouration,  which  is  supplied  the  birds 
by  the  bountiful  hand  of  Nature.  In  voice  imita- 
tions there  is  more  self-direction.  Perhaps  the 
American  mocking-bird  is  the  most  perfect  vocal 
mimic  among  all  the  bird  family.  Its  marvellous 
powers  are  such  that  the  Mexican  aborigines  called 
it  centcontlatlolli — four  hundred  tongues  or 
languages. 

In  my  New  York  studio-laboratory  I  have  two 
tame  mocking-birds,  whom  I  call  David  and  Jona- 
than. I  have  raised  them  from  tiny  babies  in  the 
nest.  David  has  learned  Dvorak's  Humoresque 
from  a  Victrola  record,  and  Jonathan  sings  parts 
of  several  simple  pieces.  They  have  never  been 
away  from  the  man-city  and  so  have  not  learned  the 
calls  of  the  wildwood  birds ;  but  many  sounds  which 
they  have  heard  repeatedly  they  can  produce  with 
such  perfection  that  the  most  skilled  ear  is  often 
deceived. 

These  remarkable  birds  imitate  the  human  voice, 
though  not  so  well  as  the  cries  and  calls  of  birds,  the 
barking  of  dogs,  the  noise  of  the  elevator,  the  ring 
of  the  telephone,  the  flow  of  water,  the  scales  on  the 


MIMICS  AMONG  BIRDS  211 

piano,  all  the  various  noises  and  sounds  of  a  great 
city.  Need  we  wonder  that  many  of  the  greatest 
thinkers  of  to-day  accord  birds  a  soul  as  well  as  a 
mind! 

When  hungry,  albatrosses  scream  without  ceas- 
ing in  a  strange  way  which  sounds  like  the  bray  of 
an  ass,  or  the  neigh  of  a  horse.  In  speaking  of  the 
lyre-bird,  Mr.  Leycester  says:  "One  of  these  birds 
had  taken  up  its  quarters  within  two  hundred  yards 
of  a  sawyer's  hut,  and  he  had  made  himself  perfect 
in  all  the  noises  of  the  sawyer's  homestead — the 
crowing  of  the  cocks,  the  barking  and  howling  of 
the  dogs,  and  even  the  painful  screeching  of  the 
sharpening  and  filing  of  the  saw." 

Charles  Darwin  speaks  of  two  very  strange  mim- 
ics of  Chile.  One  is  called  "cheucau,"  and  it  lives 
in  the  most  gloomy  and  dismal  places  within  the 
forests.  This  little  red-breasted  creature  is  difficult 
to  find,  but  when  found  he  is  usually  hopping 
around  among  the  dead  canes  and  dead  twigs  with 
his  tail  cocked  upward.  The  natives  have  many 
superstitions  about  him  because  of  his  weird  and 
varied  cries.  There  are  three  distinct  calls:  one  is 
called  "chiduco,"  and  foretells  good;  another  "chi- 
chido"  is  an  omen  of  calamity;  and  a  third,  "hiu- 
treu,"  beware  of  enemies!  These  words  are  sup- 
posed to  represent  the  sounds,  and  the  natives  are  in 


212   THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

several  ways  governed  by  them.  Another  species 
of  the  same  family,  but  larger,  is  named  "guid- 
guid"  and  by  the  English  it  is  called  the  barking 
bird.  The  name  is  apt,  for  the  most  skilled  ear 
would  mistake  its  bark  in  the  forest  for  the  yelping 
of  a  small  dog. 

Darwin  says:  "In  my  rough  notes  I  describe  the 
strange  noises,  which,  although  frequently  heard 
within  these  gloomy  forests,  yet  scarcely  disturb  the 
general  silence.  The  yelping  of  the  guid-guid,  and 
the  sudden  whew-whew  of  the  cheucau,  some- 
times come  from  afar  off,  and  sometimes  from  close 
at  hand ;  the  little  black  wren  of  Tierra  del  Fuego 
occasionally  adds  its  cry;  the  creeper  follows  the 
intruder  screaming  and  twittering;  the  humming- 
bird may  be  seen  every  now  and  then  darting  from 
side  to  side,  and  emitting,  like  an  insect,  its  shrill 
chirp;  lastly,  from  the  top  of  some  lofty  tree,  the 
indistinct  but  plaintive  note  of  the  white-tufted  ty- 
rant— flycatcher — may  be  noticed." 

The  bittern  mimics  the  bellowing  of  a  bull.  This 
strange  sound  is  produced  by  the  mimic  in  an  un- 
usual way:  he  partially  buries  his  beak  in  the  water 
as  he  bellows.  The  South  African  drongo  shrikes 
mimic  many  strange  and  weird  sounds  of  the  for- 
est; while  the  ibis  screams  like  a  child  being  tor- 
tured in  the  most  fiendish  manner.  At  first  the 


MIMICS  AMONG  BIRDS          213 

screams  are  loud,  then  they  grow  weaker  and 
weaker  until  they  finally  die  away  in  the  distance 
by  low  sighing  and  groaning. 

Not  least  among  our  mimics  are  the  pinnated 
grouse,  whose  howls  precisely  imitate  those  of  the 
prairie  wolf.  In  South  America  we  find  the  toro- 
pisju,  one  of  the  umbrella  birds,  who  brays  like  a 
trumpeter — hence  its  name;  the  red  tunqui  grunts 
like  a  wild  pig;  while  the  macaw  screams  like  a 
crying  monkey;  and  parrots  chatter  in  imitation  of 
every  imaginable  sound. 

The  most  noticeable  thing  about  most  of  these 
mimics  is  their  individuality ;  even  those  of  the  same 
family  differ  as  greatly  as  the  members  of  a  human 
family.  One  of  my  mocking-birds,  David,  is  affec- 
tionate and  is  even  on  friendly  terms  with  my  bull- 
finch and  redbirds,  and  at  times  will  play  with 
them  for  hours  over  a  piece  of  string  or  a  pebble. 
But  Jonathan  is  proud  and  haughty,  refusing  to 
recognise  my  entire  bird  family,  with  the  exception 
of  his  friend  David.  They  are  inseparable  compan- 
ions and  often  romp  and  play  until  they  are  so  ex- 
hausted that  they  cannot  fly. 

Jonathan's  house  is  his  castle  and  he  seems  per- 
fectly satisfied  to  remain  in  it  at  all  times,  provided 
no  other  bird  disturbs  him,  while  David  is  a  sociable 
creature.  He  delights  in  paying  calls  to  the  other 


214   THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

members  of  my  little  bird  colony.  He  visits  them 
daily,  and  is  even  interested  in  the  various  kinds 
of  food  he  finds  at  their  homes.  One  of  the  canaries, 
More,  is  his  special  chum.  I  have  seen  him  terribly 
maul  little  Miss  Bingham,  the  saffron  finch,  for 
having  pecked  the  canary.  His  only  serious  fault 
is  his  desire  to  bathe  in  every  tub  of  water  he  finds 
while  on  his  visits.  This  would  not  be  quite  so 
objectionable  even  to  the  brown  thrush,  whose  well- 
appointed  house  is  ever  the  acme  of  neatness,  but 
for  the  splashing  of  water  over  her  entire  cage. 
This,  no  bird  hostess  is  willing  to  tolerate! 

Parrots  are  perhaps  the  best  imitators  of  the  hu- 
man voice,  with  crows,  talking  minors,  and  para- 
keets as  close  seconds.  But  the  powers  of  each  of 
these  are  too  well  known  to  require  further  elucida- 
tion. Mimicry  is  not  confined  to  only  a  few  species 
of  birds,  but  is  present  in  some  degree  in  practi- 
cally every  bird.  The  term  "mocking-bird"  might 
be  applied  to  many  kinds  of  singers. 

The  bull-finch  and  the  gold-finch  are  famous  for 
their  powers  of  imitation.  While  their  native  notes 
are  very  simple,  they  may  be  taught  almost  any 
tune,  and  can  even  learn  to  articulate  a  few  words. 
Most  of  the  trained  bull-finches  come  from  Ger- 
many, where  they  have  been  regularly  schooled  by 
experts.  Cobblers  and  lone  people  with  much  pa- 


MIMICS  AMONG  BIRDS          215 

tience  make  good  instructors  for  these  mimics.  A 
piping  bull-finch  is  worth  many  dollars.  The  gold- 
finch soon  learns  to  mimic  the  song  of  canaries,  the 
chirp  of  sparrows,  the  bell-like  notes  of  the  black- 
bird, and  the  call  of  the  redbird;  in  fact,  any  bird 
notes  that  he  chances  to  hear  repeatedly. 

Skylarks  are  known  to  imitate  the  distress  cry  of 
the  plover,  while  lapwings  will  imitate  various  calls 
of  alarm.  The  blue  titmouse  defends  her  nest  in  a 
hole  by  puffing  up  her  feathers  and  hissing  like  a 
snake. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  stormy  petrel  has 
learned  to  imitate  the  motion  of  the  waves,  flying 
with  motions  not  unlike  those  of  certain  fish.  Corn- 
wall aptly  describes  these  movements: 

"Up  and  down!     Up  and  down! 
From  the  base  of  the  wave  to  the  billow's  crown, 
And  amidst  the  flashing  and  feathery  foam, 
The  stormy  petrel  finds  a  home, — 
A  home,  if  such  a  place  may  be, 
For  her  who  lives  on  the  wide  blue  sea, 
On  the  craggy  ice,  in  the  frozen  air, 
And  only  seeketh  her  rookery  lair 
To  warm  her  young,  and  to  teach  them  spring 
At  once  o'er  the  waves  on  their  stormy  wing !" 

These  strange  little  "water-witches"  or  Mother 
Carey's  chickens  are  familiar  to  all  sea-travellers. 


216   THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

Sailors  have  many  weird  stories  to  tell  of  them,  and 
legends  refer  to  them  as  "Neptune's  darlings,  the 
smallest  bird  cradled  on  his  bosom."  Strange  stor- 
ies claim  that  they  are  sent  from  hell  to  appear  as 
"devil-birds"  which  glide  and  play  over  the  corpses 
of  lost  sailors.  Superstitious  seamen  believe  they 
bring  evil,  and  are  responsible  for  storms  and  hurri- 
canes. How  absurd!  "Just  as  well,"  says  Wilson, 
"might  the  sailor  curse  the  friendly  rays  of  the 
lighthouse  or  the  stars  of  the  night  which  guide  him 
on  his  voyage,  the  buoy  or  beacon  which  warns  him 
of  hidden  rocks  and  shoals,  as  abuse  the  stormy 
petrel;  for  as  these  give  notice  of  coming  danger,  so 
does  the  bird  warn  the  mariner,  and  afford  oppor- 
tunity to  make  all  snug  against  the  arrival  of  evil." 
It  is  a  mistake,  however,  to  claim  that  these  trust- 
ful, delightful  little  swallows  of  the  ocean  show 
themselves  only  when  a  storm  is  approaching,  and 
that  they  never  alight  to  swim  in  the  water. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  and  peculiar  forms 
of  mimicry  among  the  feathered  tribe  are  simula- 
tions of  death.  Not  a  few  birds  are  given  to  this 
ruse.  A  water-hen  is  often  found  "possuming." 
An  English  sportsman  tells  of  a  hunting  trip  when 
he  chanced  to  come  upon  a  water-hen  lying  half  in 
the  water,  with  her  head  concealed  by  brown  leaves 
which  had  blown  near  the  place.  He  picked  up  the 


MIMICS  AMONG  BIRDS  217 

bird  by  the  wing,  and  apparently  she  was  quite 
limp  and  dead.  Thinking  she  had  fallen  as  the  re- 
sult of  disease  or  accident,  he  tossed  her  into  the 
water,  when  to  his  astonishment  she  suddenly 
flapped  her  wings  and  flew  away. 

The  landrail,  whose  croaking  and  mysterious  note 
is  often  heard  in  the  corn-fields  in  early  spring, 
simulates  death  when  danger  is  near.  Perhaps  this 
is  owing  to  its  clumsy  body  and  almost  useless  wings 
which  give  it  no  other  means  of  protection.  It  is 
rarely  seen  except  when  flushed  by  a  hunting  dog. 
Turkey  buzzards,  when  captured,  will  often  simu- 
late death. 

Not  only  are  many  birds  mimics,  but  quite  a  few 
are  ventriloquists.  Raincrows  have  been  the  cause 
of  much  superstition  among  the  coloured  people  of 
the  South.  These  superstitions  have  arisen  because 
of  the  raincrows'  power  of  making  their  voices  come 
from  the  opposite  direction  from  which  it  is  sent. 
One  summer  I  had  an  interesting  experience  with 
a  pair  of  raincrows  in  eastern  Texas.  I  found  two 
fledgelings  in  a  small  scrubby  oak  tree,  just  ready 
to  fly.  The  parent  birds  were  concealed  in  nearby 
trees,  while  their  coarse  croaking  voices  seemed  to 
come  from  far  away  in  the  opposite  direction.  At 
times  the  strange  sounds  seemed  to  emanate  from 
a  small  pine  forest  several  hundred  yards  away. 


218    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

Then  I  climbed  into  the  tree,  near  the  nest,  and  the 
crows  flew  near  me,  while  their  voices  still  seemed 
to  come  from  all  directions. 

The  corncrake  is  a  specialist  at  ventriloquy.  It 
is  by  this  strange  power  that  it  protects  its  nest.  If 
an  enemy  approaches  its  home,  suddenly  a  strange 
crake,  crake  is  heard  in  an  entirely  different  direc- 
tion. A  ghostly  feeling  comes  over  one  as  the  notes 
swell  and  die  away  to  an  echo! 

The  ring-ouzel  and  the  grasshopper-warbler  also 
are  gifted  with  ventriloquial  powers  which  they  use 
to  lure  enemies  away  from  their  homes. 

The  mocking-bird  is  perhaps  one  of  the  ablest 
ventriloquists.  David,  to  whom  I  have  already  re- 
ferred, has  learned  to  throw  his  voice  to  various 
parts  of  the  bird-room  at  the  same  time.  He  uses 
this  power,  however,  only  at  night.  His  favourite 
way  of  calling  me  seems  to  be  by  ventriloquistically 
imitating  the  mew  of  a  cat.  He  knows  that  a  cat 
is  the  least  desired  animal  for  a  bird-room!  Jona- 
than does  not  seem  to  use  this  power. 

The  bell-bird  of  South  America  is  a  ventriloquist 
of  most  remarkable  ability.  No  songster  of  the 
forest  causes  so  much  astonishment  by  its  vocal 
powers,  and  clear  bell-like  notes.  Waterson  says: 
"He  greets  both  morn  and  eve  with  his  song;  and 
yet  when  the  ardent  sun's  rays  lull  all  nature  into 


MIMICS  AMONG  BIRDS          219 

stillness,  his  cheerful  tones  ring  through  the  silent 
forest.  One  hears  the  notes,  and  then  there  is  a 
minute's  pause;  again,  the  bell-like  sound,  then  an- 
other interval  of  silence;  a  third  time  this  takes 
place,  when  after  a  pause  of  six  or  eight  minutes, 
the  song  bursts  out  afresh.  Acteon  would  turn 
from  the  wildest  chase,  Marie  cease  her  evening 
hymn, — ay!  Orpheus,  himself,  would  forego  his 
lute  to  hear  this  bird — so  full,  so  fresh,  and  so  ro- 
mantic is  the  ring  of  his  melodius  song." 

The  bell-birds  of  Guiana  and  Brazil  have  not 
only  the  gift  of  speech,  but  marvellously  developed 
ventriloquistic  powers  as  well.  They  are  rarely  seen 
in  the  wild  state  because  they  frequent  the  tops  of 
the  highest  trees,  and  at  this  giddy  height  their 
snow-white  plumage  and  transparent  wings  render 
them  almost  invisible.  One  may  stand  beneath  the 
tree  on  which  the  ventriloquist  is  located  without 
even  suspecting  that  the  distant  bell-like  tinkles,  so 
modulated  with  regard  to  the  intervals  as  to  pro- 
duce the  most  wonderful  melody,  are  being  pro- 
duced right  overhead. 

The  sandpipers  practise  most  interesting  protec- 
tive acts  of  deception.  Startle  a  sandpiper  from 
her  nest  and  she  reels  and  stumbles  before  you, 
while  her  mate  in  the  distance  encourages  her  acting. 


220    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

She  hopes  by  thus  attracting  your  attention  to  save 
her  precious  eggs  in  the  sand. 

The  lapwing,  when  disturbed,  is  a  pitiable  sight 
with  her  seemingly  broken  wings  and  her  mourn- 
ful cries.  Here  she  tumbles,  there  she  flops,  yonder 
she  runs,  but  ever  away  from  her  nest!  Her  mate 
also  adds  to  the  performance  by  innumerable  aerial 
gyrations  which  aid  in  distracting  the  attention  of 
the  observer  from  a  near-by  nest  where  the  little 
ones  are  hopelessly  exposed  in  the  thin  grass. 

Many  shore-haunting  birds  have  devised  methods 
of  hiding  their  eggs.  The  guillemot  makes  no  nest, 
but  lays  one  egg  in  a  hole  in  the  side  of  a  cliff.  The 
ringed  dotterel  makes  her  nest  on  a  bank  of  debris 
and  sticks  the  eggs  up  on  end  so  as  to  resemble  drift- 
wood. Partridges  and  pheasants  usually  lay  their 
eggs  on  dark  leaves,  and  ofttimes  cover  them  when 
they  go  away.  The  water  ouzel  builds  a  domed  nest 
which  looks  like  a  bunch  of  green  moss.  The  gold- 
crest  swings  her  delicate  hanging-nest  among  the 
long,  drooping  pine  boughs,  where  it  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  find. 

The  eggs  and  plumage  of  certain  game  birds  are 
yery  difficult  to  detect  from  their  surroundings.  The 
snipe  has  a  pencilled  plumage  which  is  hard  to  dis- 
cern among  the  brown  marshes  where  the  bird  is 
found.  The  woodcock's  leaf-strewn  nest  may  be 


A  MOTHER  GROUSE  OF  THE  SIERRAS    CALIFORNIA 


YOUNG  MARSH  HAWKS  SAFELY  HIDDEN  AWAY  IN  THE  TALL  GK.VSS 


MIMICS  AMONG  BIRDS          221 

walked  over  without  being  observed.  The  colour 
of  the  red  grouse  is  strikingly  in  accord  with  that 
of  the  purple  heather  among  which  the  nest  is 
found.  Their  eggs  also  imitate  the  colouring  of 
their  surroundings.  The  wind-shaken  feathers  of 
the  shaggy,  gaunt  herons  make  them  look  precisely 
like  driftwood  when  standing  in  a  pond. 

The  night- jar  or  goat-sucker  has  learned  to  pro- 
tect herself  during  the  day  by  resting  on  grey 
stones.  Her  mottled  plumage  corresponds  to  the 
colour  of  the  stones ;  and  her  eggs,  also  the  colour  of 
her  plumage,  are  laid  on  the  bare  ground,  or  on  the 
stones.  Leaf-warblers  attach  to  their  nests  leaves 
of  the  same  tree  in  which  they  are  built.  Many  of 
the  brilliantly  coloured  birds  of  the  tropics,  like  the 
toucans,  motmots,  and  bee-eaters,  build  their  nests 
in  the  holes  of  trees,  and  consequently  have  no  need 
of  mimicry. 

Birds  like  the  lark  approach  or  depart  from  their 
nests  by  darting  suddenly  down  through  the  under- 
brush, then  proceeding  in  a  roundabout  way  so  as 
not  to  be  followed.  The  winchat  also  approaches 
her  nest  in  a  winding  and  deceptive  manner.  Rails, 
if  they  are  aware  that  they  are  being  watched,  actu- 
ally pretend  to  sit  down  upon  their  nest  when  a 
long  distance  from  it.  Sometimes  the  male  bird 


will  attract  an  observer's  attention  while  the  female 
silently  enters  the  nest. 

Thus  we  see  that  nature  has  bountifully  supplied 
her  feathered  creatures  with  instinct  and  intelli- 
gence sufficient  to  baffle  their  enemies,  including 
man  himself.  Every  variety  of  bird  has  some  pe- 
culiar way  of  defending  itself  and  its  nest.  Those 
that  lay  their  eggs  on  bare,  exposed  situations  use 
distracting  motions.  Birds  that  nest  in  deep  for- 
ests or  thickets  are  adepts  at  silence:  this  is  their 
protection;  while  predaceous  birds  employ  warlike 
methods,  and  birds  of  a  general  habitat  resort  to 
mimicry,  not  a  few  of  them  having  the  additional 
accomplishment  of  ventriloquy.  Wherever  these 
marvellous  little  beings  are  found  they  exercise  a 
God-given  craftiness  in  their  own  protection.  They 
are  another  thing  for  man  to  reflect  on  when  he 
grows  arrogant  in  his  own  wisdom. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEIR  THEATRES 

He  flaps  his  wings,  erects  his  spotted  crest; 
His  flaming  eyes  dart  forth  a  piercing  ray; 
He  swells  the  lovely  plumage  of  his  breast, 
And  glares  a  wonder  of  the  orient  day. 

— From  "The  Hoopoe." 

PERHAPS  the  most  interesting  people  of  the 
human  world  are  the  actors  and  the  actresses ; 
and  the  same  is  true  among  birds.  They  not  only 
have  numerous  kinds  of  acts  and  plays,  but  they 
have  their  definite  theatres  and  playhouses,  where 
they  come  together  to  indulge  in  the  various  games 
they  have  learned  for  their  own  pleasure  and  the 
amusement  of  their  audiences.  Among  certain 
groups  of  birds  every  community  has  its  own  play- 
house, and  some  have  many. 

All  birds  are  artists  in  the  truest  sense  of  the 
word,  and  show  not  only  marvellous  instinct  in  their 
acting,  but  a  reasoning  power  which  seems  quite 
as  remarkable  as  that  of  a  human  being ;  for  the  in- 
tellectual capacities  of  birds  are  by  no  means  so  in- 
ferior to  those  of  man  as  the  average  person  be- 

223 


224    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

lieves.  No  better  proof  of  this  exists  than  in  their 
inimitable  acting  and  playing. 

From  the  earliest  times  the  wonderfully  devel- 
oped art  of  mimicry  among  birds  has  been  deemed 
as  verging  upon  the  supernatural.  Men,  especially 
the  less  educated,  being  unable  to  explain  the  mys- 
tery, have  contented  themselves  with  believing  that 
these  actors  are  birds  of  ill-omen.  This  is  especially 
true  of  night  birds,  such  as  the  owls.  In  Mada- 
gascar there  are  seven  species  of  these  actors,  and 
they  are  referred  to  by  the  natives  as  "spirit-birds" 
and  are  believed  to  be  the  embodiment  of  the  spirits 
of  the  wicked.  Their  screech  is  the  presage  of  great 
misfortune.  The  rarest  of  these  "day-sleeper"  ac- 
tors is  very  beautifully  marked  with  silvery  wave 
lines  over  pale  reddish  brown.  The  uncanny  eyes 
and  elaborate  head-dress  so  skilfully  used  in  acting 
lead  to  many  strange  tales  among  the  superstitious 
natives. 

The  methods  or  schools  of  acting  in  the  bird 
world  are  quite  as  varied  as  in  the  human  world. 
Each  individual  plays  the  part  for  which  he  is  best 
suited,  and  which  best  aids  in  his  combats,  or  in 
winning  a  mate,  as  the  case  may  be.  Usually  the 
song-bird  is  not  so  clever  an  actor  as  his  songless 
brother,  whose  chief  personal  charm  is  in  his  acting. 
And  when  the  season  of  love  approaches  and  the 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    225 

latter  begins  to  realise  that  his  harsh  and  hoarse 
voice  will  not  win  for  himself  a  mate,  he  then  begins 
to  rehearse  for  his  act! 

When  the  rehearsals  are  all  over,  and  the  per- 
formance is  perfected,  he  goes  forth  to  seek  her, 
pouring  out  his  passionate  pleadings  in  a  hundred 
struttings  and  attitudes.  He  displays  his  lovely 
plumage  in  a  series  of  poses,  as  he  challenges  dan- 
ger with  his  cries  of  defiance  and  gallantry.  Some- 
times he  pleads  in  sobbing  tones  like  the  cuckoo. 
This  call,  however,  is  not  a  song  in  the  limited  sense, 
but  is  a  pleading  call  for  a  mate,  and  is  never  ut- 
tered except  during  the  courting  season.  Guinea 
fowls  also  have  a  call-note  which  is  given  only  dur- 
ing the  mating  season,  while  redbirds,  or  cardinals, 
have  a  special  courting-language. 

The  bird  has  a  voice  second  to  no  living  thing. 
This  intellectual  voice  in  many  birds  is  especially 
endowed  with  song,  and  this  song  is  speech.  All 
animals  express  their  feelings  by  means  of  sounds, 
yet  these  are  not,  in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word, 
either  speech  or  song.  The  bird,  on  the  other  hand, 
has  most  beautiful  speaking  tones,  which  are  pleas- 
ing to  the  ear,  and  which  all  true  bird  actors  use  to 
the  greatest  advantage  in  portraying  their  emotions. 
The  bird's  voice  has  many  properties,  such  as  ful- 
ness, strength,  roundness,  versatility,  and  elasticity. 


226    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

The  redbird  is  an  exceptionally  good  actor,  and 
uses  every  art  known  to  the  actor  in  expressing  him- 
self. For  instance,  if  he  is  angry,  he  drops  the  crest 
on  his  head  and  reaches  out  his  neck  as  he  snaps  his 
beak  with  great  rapidity,  adding  little  hisses  that 
are  unmistakable;  if  he  is  lonely,  especially  late  at 
night,  he  utters  low  sad  chirping  notes,  reminding 
one  of  the  languishing  call  of  a  whippoorwill ;  if  he 
becomes  frightened  he  utters  sharp,  nervous  calls; 
help  is  needed!  But  when  he  wishes  to  express  joy 
or  satisfaction  he  uses  the  tenderest  notes,  and  his 
voice  is  so  modulated  that  no  one  could  mistake  his 
feeling.  He  is  an  actor  of  the  highest  type,  and  his 
every  emotion  has  its  physical  poise  of  body  to  ac- 
company it. 

The  starling  is  an  actor,  or  rather  a  merry  clown, 
of  very  remarkable  abilities.  He  is  sociable,  and 
ready  to  amuse  whenever  an  audience  appears ;  one 
is  reminded  of  the  words  of  Hurdis: 

"High  on  the  topmost  branches  of  the  elm 
In  sable  conversation  sits  the  flock 
Of  social  starlings,  the  withdrawing  beam 
Enjoying,  supperless,  of  hasty  day." 

He  is  always  in  a  good  humour,  and  is  equally  at 
home  under  all  circumstances.  He  radiates  joy  at 
all  times  and  under  all  conditions.  A  cloudy  day  or 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    227 

even  a  snowstorm  has  little  effect  upon  this  philoso- 
pher who  sits  perched  upon  a  beam  in  the  village 
church,  or  near  a  window  giving  vent  to  his  joy. 
Both  in  America  and  in  England  he  displays  a 
marked  preference  for  village  or  city  life,  and  sel- 
dom takes  up  his  abode  in  rural  districts.  His  plum- 
age is  a  glossy  black  with  trimmings  of  metallic 
blue  and  green,  which  is  brilliant  in  the  sunlight ;  the 
wings  and  tail  are  light  grey,  the  beak  yellow,  and 
the  feet  a  browish  red.  As  autumn  comes  on,  the 
darker  feathers  are  tipped  in  white,  and  the  starling 
has  a  spotted  appearance. 

No  bird  loves  human  society  more  than  the  star- 
ling, and  he  is  ever  ready  to  show  his  appreciation 
of  a  nesting-box  in  song  and  act.  He  is  happy, 
trustful,  cunning,  and  comical  at  all  times.  A 
group  of  these  strollers  love  to  gather  round  church 
steeples  and  sing  and  chatter  at  sundown.  Some  of 
them  inflate  their  throats  and  wave  their  wings  and 
hop  about  as  though  they  were  endeavouring  to 
tell  the  entire  world  of  their  happiness.  Late  of 
evenings  they  often  gather  in  marshy  places  by  the 
reed-beds,  where  they  hold  such  a  concert  that  no 
one  in  the  neighbourhood  can  sleep.  They  chatter 
and  jabber,  hop  and  jump,  forming  indeed  a  cir- 
cus of  the  rarest  kind.  They  make  attractive  pets, 
and  usually  become  much  attached  to  their  masters. 


228     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

They  are  great  mimics,  and  children  delight  in  their 
acting. 

The  most  interesting  bird-actor  I  have  even 
known  is  a  chocolate-faced  parakeet  whom  I  chris- 
tened Moses.  He  came  to  me  as  a  gift  from  a  bird 
dealer  when  he  was  quite  a  baby,  and  I  immediately 
began  to  care  for  him  as  best  I  could.  The  dealer 
told  me  that  Moses  had  been  brought  from  South 
America,  and  that  a  sad  accident  had  befallen  him 
on  the  journey — a  cockatoo  had  bitten  off  one  of 
his  feet.  However,  the  wound  was  entirely  healed, 
and  I  was  delighted  with  this  baby  actor. 

But  Moses  was  an  untrained  birdling,  and  he 
cried  and  screamed  almost  day  and  night.  I  tried 
every  imaginable  thing  to  soothe  him,  but  still  he 
cried.  Finally  my  neighbours  complained  of  him, 
and,  alas — I  had  to  find  him  a  new  home.  Then  it 
was  I  gave  him  to  a  friend,  without  telling  of  his 
bad  habits.  Each  time  when  I  inquired  of  Moses 
I  was  informed  that  he  was  doing  beautifully. 
From  time  to  time  I  called  to  see  him,  and  much 
to  my  surprise  I  learned  that  he  was  a  very  clever 
actor,  and  could  do  innumerable  little  tricks,  such 
as  lying  on  his  back  and  pretending  to  be  asleep, 
wiping  his  beak  on  certain  wires  in  his  large  cage, 
scratching  his  head  on  his  swinging  perch,  besides 
imitating  many  sounds,  like  the  ring  of  the  tele- 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    229 

phone,  the  flow  of  water,  the  sound  of  the  dumb- 
waiter, and  a  number  of  bird  calls  he  had  heard 
when  he  was  very  young.  Later  he  learned  to  imi- 
tate the  call  of  a  puppy;  besides  he  will  talk  in- 
definitely, and  he  seems  to  know  just  how  to  show 
his  appreciation  of  kindness  by  waving  his  head 
from  side  to  side,  and  by  playing,  like  a  child,  when 
noticed.  Strangely  enough  he  has  never  screamed 
and  cried  since  the  day  he  went  to  live  at  his  won- 
derful new  home,  and  his  new  coat  of  bluish-green 
plumage  is  strikingly  beautiful.  I  fear,  however, 
that  a  part  of  his  sweet  temper  is  due  to  the  extra 
care  and  good  food  he  receives  where  he  is! 

Perhaps  the  best  actors  of  the  bird  world  are 
found  among  the  gallinaceous  family.  They  have 
the  most  modern  and  extravagant  ideas  of  married 
life ;  and  divorce  with  them  is  very  common. 

The  capercailzie  are  really  the  grand  opera  per- 
formers of  the  bird  family,  and  seem  to  think  it 
necessary  to  go  through  with  an  entire  opera  in 
order  to  win  a  mate.  Their  play  is  a  strange  and 
interesting  combination  of  a  love-dance,  love-song, 
and  a  demonstration  of  tender  passions,  all  at  the 
same  time!  It  may  be  likened  to  a  motion-picture 
play  with  notes  and  music  to  accompany  every  part 
of  it.  Hunters  are  familiar  with  these  actors  and 
their  plays,  and  not  infrequently  follow  the  birds 


230    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

during  their  theatrical  season  that  they  may  kill 
them.  A  poet  has  given  us  a  true  description  of 
the  follies  of  certain  bird  actors  in  these  lines : 

"The  cock  of  the  wood  courts  his  mates  in  the  forest  gay 
While  strutting  in  ecstasy  upon  a  fir  branch  high, 
And  marks  not  the  hunter's  stealthy  tread; 
Many  thousands  thus,  alas,  are  caught  .  .  ." 

The  day  before  the  "show"  opens,  the  capercailzie 
goes  to  the  chosen  place,  usually  a  larch  or  fir  tree, 
where  the  bark  is  suitable  for  dancing,  and  there 
begins  to  dress  his  feathers.  He  makes  quite  a 
little  noise  with  his  toilette,  and  from  time  to  time 
listens  with  great  attention  to  see  if  any  "fair" 
one  is  near;  he  flies  to  the  ground  and  pecks  about 
uncertainly  for  a  few  moments,  as  though  he  were 
planning  what  to  do  next.  Then  he  returns  to  the 
trees  and  begins  a  series  of  choking  sounds,  which 
some  naturalists  have  referred  to  as  "retching"  or 
"cramming."  This  sound  is  not  unlike  the  grunt- 
ing of  a  pig,  and  is  a  sure  sign  that  the  bird  will 
play  again  the  following  morning. 

In  the  early  morning,  before  sunrise,  the  per- 
formance begins  with  a  smacking  sound,  which  is 
not  unlike  the  low  guttural  chirping  of  a  turkey- 
gobbler.  This  increases  in  rapidity  until  it  becomes 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    231 

genuine  music.  Various  orchestral  effects  are  heard 
— flutings,  reed-like  twitterings ;  then,  according  to 
Mr.  Geyer,  "the  grinding,  whetting,  and  playing 
begins,  which  is  also  called  'stanza-  or  verse-making,' 
a  sound  which,  in  spite  of  every  essay,  no  mortal 
being  has  ever  been  able  to  imitate,  wholly  or  even 
partially,  and  probably  never  will.  This  sound  lasts 
from  about  three  and  a  half  to  four  seconds ;  it  some- 
what resembles  the  whetting  of  a  scythe,  and  may 
be,  in  a  way,  expressed  by  the  word  'hide,  hide,  hide, 
hide,  hide,  hide,  hide,  hide-er-i.'  During  this  'play- 
ing' the  bird  is  usually  seen  perched  on  some  promi- 
nent or  withered  branch,  with  drooping  and  trem- 
bling wings,  ruffled  feathers,  raised  and  out-spread 
tail;  in  short,  it  much  resembles  an  angry  turkey- 
cock;  the  neck  is  outstretched,  the  head  and  eyes 
turned  upwards  and  in  continuous  movement.  At 
the  same  time  the  bird  generally  walks  up  and  down 
the  branch  .  .  .  and  treads  a  number  of  small 
branches  to  pieces ;  in  fact,  the  creature  seems  to  be 
in  a  mesmeric  state,  which  renders  it  totally  un- 
conscious of  all  that  is  going  on  in  the  outer  world ; 
so  much  so,  indeed,  that  if  shot  at  and  clean  missed, 
while  in  this  state,  it  continues  'playing'  and  re- 
mains quite  undisturbed  by  either  the  flash  or  re- 
port." 

The  "play"  closes,  or  the  act  is  finished,  shortly 


232    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

after  sunrise.  The  gallant  actor  then  leaves  his 
perch,  and  salutes  his  numerous  mates  who  have  so 
favoured  him  with  an  admiring  audience ;  from  one 
to  the  other  he  walks  as  they  greet  him  with  soft 
caressing  tones,  as  a  Sultan  is  greeted  in  his  harem ! 

The  bower  bird  of  Australia  builds  a  charming 
theatre  or  playhouse,  which  in  perfection  of  art  re- 
minds one  of  Stuart  Walker's  Portmanteau  Thea- 
tre. .  .  .  "The  theatre  that  comes  to  you."  In 
reality  the  bower  bird  carries  or  builds  his  little 
playhouse  near  his  lover's  favourite  haunts,  and 
therein  he  acts  playlets  which  portray  all  the  emo- 
tions of  his  race.  He  dances,  acts,  sings,  and  courts, 
all  at  the  same  time,  and  ends  by  "popping  the  ques- 
tion" with  his  final  bow. 

Every  bird  actor  has  his  own  way  of  making  love. 
The  snipe  slides  in  circles,  dancing  like  a  fairy  in 
the  loveliest  way  imaginable,  as  he  bows  and  pleads 
in  a  most  convincing  manner ;  the  brilliant  and  tal- 
ented ibis  seats  himself  in  a  graceful  position  before 
the  one  he  would  have  for  his  mate ;  while  the  mock- 
ing-bird tumbles  in  the  air,  singing  all  night  long. 
Cranes  have  a  regular  serenade  and  cake-walk 
which  might  compare  very  favourably  with  our  old 
time  negro  cake-walks. 

The  common  cake-walk  has  been  known  to  birds 
for  ages,  and  the  laysan  albatross,  according  to  Mr. 


.Walter  K.  Fisher's  description,  is  very  interesting. 
He  says :  "At  first  two  birds  approach  one  another, 
bowing  profoundly  and  stepping  heavily.  They 
swagger  about  each  other,  nodding  and  curtsying 
solemnly,  then  suddenly  begin  to  fence  a  little, 
crossing  bills  and  whetting  them  together,  some- 
times with  a  whistling  sound,  meantime  still  peck- 
ing and  dropping  little  bows.  All  at  once  one  lifts 
its  closed  wing  and  nibbles  at  the  feathers  beneath, 
or  rarely,  if  in  a  hurry,  quickly  turns  its  head.  The 
partner  during  this  short  performance  assumes  a 
statuesque  pose,  and  either  moves  mechanically 
from  side  to  side,  or  snaps  its  bill  loudly  a  few  times. 
Then  the  bird  bows  once,  and  pointing  its  head  and 
beak  straight  upward,  rises  on  its  toes,  puffs  out  its 
breast,  and  utters  a  prolonged,  nasal  Ah-h-h-h,  with 
a  rapidly  rising  inflection.  While  this  'song'  is  be- 
ing uttered,  the  companion  loudly  and  rapidly  snaps 
its  bill.  Often  both  birds  raise  their  heads  in  air 
and  either  one  or  both  favour  the  appreciative  au- 
dience with  the  ridiculous  and  indescribable  bovine 
groan.  When  they  have  finished  they  begin  bow- 
ing to  each  other  again,  rapidly  and  alternately, 
and  presently  repeat  the  performance,  the  birds 
sometimes  reversing  their  role  in  the  game." 

Certain  species  of  bird-actors  perform  their  feats 
only  during  the  courting  season.    Their  extraordi- 


nary  behaviour  in  this  period  is  quite  unlike  that  of 
the  rest  of  the  year.  The  peacock,  whose  gorgeous 
dress  needs  no  description,  and  whose  wonderful 
"train"  acts  as  an  exquisite  screen  for  him,  is  a 
veteran  actor.  Surely  he  must  appreciate  the  ad- 
vantage he  has  by  appearing  with  such  a  magnifi- 
cent appendage !  And  this  he  uses  to  great  benefit 
in  his  acting — which  is  really  his  courtship. 

Actor-like,  he  awaits  the  most  dramatic  moment 
before  displaying  his  beauty.  He  carefuly  watches 
the  object  of  his  adoration,  and  turns  in  such  a 
position  that  his  beauty  may  be  concealed  until  the 
exact  moment  when  he  wishes  to  overcome  her. 
Then  he  dramatically  steps  rapidly  backward  to- 
ward her,  like  a  trapeze  performer  who  is  going  to 
spring  into  the  air,  and  suddenly  whirls  around  and 
displays  his  gorgeous  vestments!  This  turning  is 
accompanied  by  a  trembling  movement  of  the  train, 
as  the  quills  drag  upon  the  ground.  Occasionally 
he  screams  out  a  word — perhaps  some  day  we  may 
understand  it — but  Miss  Peahen  seems  utterly  in- 
different to  his  show,  and  offers  him  little  encour- 
agement or  applause. 

The  common  barn-yard  turkey  is  an  actor  of  no 
mean  ability,  and  compares  not  unfavourably  with 
the  peacock.  The  turkey  is,  however,  not  so  beau- 
tiful of  plumage,  nor  quite  so  dramatic  in  his  acting. 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    235 

His  art  is  carried  on  chiefly  during  the  mating  sea- 
son, and  his  audiences  are  always  composed  of 
admiring  female  turkeys.  As  an  artist  Jhe  is  high- 
salaried,  and  his  reward  is  usually  a  mate. 

Not  a  few  of  the  smaller  birds,  such  as  swallows, 
bee-martins,  and  swifts,  play  "tag"  or  "last  touch" 
at  a  regular  time  each  day.  They  have  their  time 
for  play  and  recreation  just  as  children  or  healthy 
grown-ups  do.  During  the  play  hour  every  bird 
from  far  and  near  seems  to  join  in  the  frolic;  they 
chase  one  another  like  romping  children,  and  finally 
settle  down  on  a  telephone-wire  or  a  tree  for  a  soci- 
able chat,  after  which  each  pair  returns  to  its  own 
resting-place  or  home.  Play-time  is  usually  late 
in  the  afternoon  just  before  sunset. 

Groups  of  swallows  often  assemble  in  long  rows 
on  the  eaves  of  a  building,  and  at  a  moment's  no- 
tice arise  and  begin  chasing  one  another  around  in 
the  air  with  the  glee  of  circus  performers.  And 
then  as  quickly  as  they  begin  their  fun  they  all  stop 
their  play  and  chattering  and  either  fly  away  or 
settle  back  on  the  eaves  with  the  solemnity  of  barn- 
yard fowl. 

Side-shows  or  curtain  lectures  are  common  oc- 
currences among  the  kites.  Their  entire  family 
life  is  unusually  interesting.  When  the  male  bird 
returns  home  after  having  stayed  away  for  any 


length  of  time,  he  is  given  a  curtain  lecture  hy  his 
loving  mate.  In  this  way  she  shows  her  great  re- 
gard for  him;  for  the  married  life  among  kites  is 
the  happiest  known  in  the  bird  world.  How  pa- 
tiently and  longingly  Mrs.  Kite  waits  for  the  re- 
turn of  her  mate  when  he  is  away  seeking  food  for 
the  family!  If  he  does  not  return  promptly,  she 
flops  her  wings  and  cries  bitterly,  and  when  he  does 
return,  his  curtain  lectures  are  more  the  expres- 
sions of  great  joy  than  scoldings  for  his  delay.  It 
sometimes  happens  that  Mr.  Kite  has  food  for  his 
babies,  and  is  being  spied  upon  by  a  robber  in  the 
form  of  an  eagle,  in  which  case  he  dares  not  fly 
toward  his  nest,  but  awaits  an  opportunity  to  drop 
the  food  from  above  to  his  young,  or  else  remains 
hidden  until  his  enemy — the  robber  hawk  or  eagle- 
has  gone  away.  Then  he  goes  home  to  his  sorrow- 
ing wife  and  hungry  children,  to  make  them  happy 
by  his  safe  return. 

The  white-tailed  kite  of  Argentina  is  an  actor  of 
remarkable  talents.  He  is  indeed  ha-ndsome,  with 
red  eyes  and  white  plumage,  and  his  chief  delight  is 
in  playing  in  tall  tree-tops,  especially  during  a 
wind-storm,  when,  with  a  group  of  fellow-players, 
he  perches  upon  a  slender  swaying  limb  or  branch, 
and  balances  himself  with  outstretched  wings,  un- 
til a  strong  gust  blows  him  off  his  feet,  when  he 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    237 

remains  poised  until  the  limb  swings  back  under- 
neath him.  Sometimes  a  group  of  these  actors  sud- 
denly fly  into  the  clouds  and  seem  utterly  to  aban- 
don themselves  to  the  fury  of  the  wind.  They  are 
driven  like  snowflakes  hither  and  thither,  at  last  re- 
covering themselves  and  darting  back  to  their  old 
positions. 

Perhaps  the  argus  pheasant  is  the  most  remark- 
able as  well  as  the  most  beautiful  of  all  feathered 
actors.  While  its  plumage  is  not  so  gorgeous  as  that 
of  the  peacock,  yet  it  is  unquestionably  the  best 
dressed  actor  in  existence.  As  its  name  implies,  it 
has  a  hundred  eyes  in  its  plumage ;  and  its  second- 
ary wing  feathers  are  enormously  elongated  and  of 
great  breadth.  It  is  a  native  of  Sumatra  and  the 
Indo-Malay  mainland.  The  beauty  of  this  bird 
consists  chiefly  in  the  great  number  of  "eye-like" 
spots,  so  coloured  and  arranged  that  they  appear, 
when  held  in  a  certain  position,  like  a  ball  lying  in 
a  cup.  The  primary  quills  are  extraordinarily 
beautiful;  the  colourings  are  of  delicate  brown, 
dotted  with  soft  dark  spots,  and  there  is  a  darker 
quill  whose  outer  margin  is  surrounded  by  a  band  of 
lighter  colour  than  the  other  parts.  The  plumage 
is  thickly  covered  with  tiny  dark  spots  not  unlike 
certain  of  the  guinea  fowl.  The  tail  of  the  argus 
pheasant,  like  its  wing-feathers,  is  of  great  length 


238    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

and  beauty,  and  adds  the  final  point  of  perfection 
to  an  exquisite  actor-artist.  In  fact,  as  an  actor, 
he  has  no  rival.  While  he  is  not  acting,  there  is 
nothing  extraordinary  in  either  his  appearance  or 
his  manner,  but  as  soon  as  his  acting  or  courting 
season  begins  he  uses  every  known  art  of  the  actor 
to  portray  his  work. 

At  the  beginning  of  his  theatrical  season,  he  se- 
lects a  level  spot  in  a  deep,  quiet  forest  for  his  per- 
manent "playhouse,"  and  from  this  he  sweeps  away 
all  dead  leaves  and  underbrush  for  a  space  of  six 
to  eight  yards  square,  until  nothing  remains  but  the 
clear,  clean  earth.  Even  a  fallen  dead  leaf  is  im- 
mediately cleared  away,  and  he  would  no  more 
allow  a  straw  to  lie  on  his  clean  floor  than  a  ballet 
dancer  would  permit  rubbish  on  the  stage  on  which 
she  appears. 

Alone,  this  gorgeous  actor  spends  his  weary  days 
gesticulating  and  calling  at  brief  intervals,  "How- 
how,  how,  how,  how!"  This  note  is  sometimes  re- 
peated from  eight  to  ten  times,  or  until  a  female 
pheasant  answers  by  untranslatable  words,  "How- 
owoo,  how-o  woo-oo-oo!"  Then  the  forest  echoes 
with  the  answering  calls  of  these  actors  until  the 
female  condescends  to  approach  the  theatre  or 
playground.  Here  she  witnesses  a  most  remark- 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    239 

able  performance,  which  is  wonderfuly  described  by 
Darwin. 

As  soon  as  the  audience  arrives,  the  actor  as- 
sumes a  most  dignified  air,  and  raises  his  tail  and 
stretches  his  huge  wings  into  a  marvellous  fan-like 
shield,  which  is  carried  in  front  of  his  body.  "The 
neck  and  head  are  held  to  one  side  so  that  they  are 
concealed  by  the  fan,  but  the  bird,  in  order  to  see 
the  female  before  whom  he  is  displaying  himself, 
sometimes  pushes  his  head  between  two  of  the  long 
feathers  .  .  .  and  then  presents  a  grotesque  ap- 
pearance. This  must  be  a  frequent  habit  with  the 
bird  in  a  state  of  nature,  for  ...  on  examining 
some  perfect  skins  sent  from  the  East,  we  found  a 
place  between  two  of  the  feathers  which  was  much 
frayed,  as  if  the  head  had  here  been  frequently 
pushed  through." 

Reinhardt's  ptarmigan  of  Greenland  and  Labra- 
dor and  a  number  of  his  Alaskan  cousins,  among 
which  are  the  white-tailed  willow  and  rock  ptarmi- 
gan, are  all  great  vaudevillists.  With  them  acting 
is  always  courting,  and  they  make  up  for  a  poor 
act  by  wearing  gorgeous  costumes  which  they 
change  very  often.  During  the  mating  season,  as 
soon  as  the  male  chooses  a  partner,  he  begins  to 
strut  around  her  with  his  spreading  tail  and  drag- 
ging wings,  and  presses  his  breast  against  the 


240    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

ground,  stretching  his  neck  at  full  length  and  pro- 
ducing a  growling  sound.  Bending  and  twisting 
his  neck,  like  a  mad  contortionist,  he  leaps  into  the 
air  and  rolls  over  and  over  like  an  intoxicated  clown. 
And  strange  as  it  may  seem,  this  foolish  conduct 
seems  to  please  the  female.  Surely  the  tastes  of 
"the  female  of  the  species"  are  queer! 

The  ptarmigans  of  Alaska  wear,  during  the  sum- 
mer, a  costume  of  mottled  buff-and-hrown;  at  the 
approach  of  winter  this  changes  to  a  snowy  white 
one,  which  is  worn  until  spring.  The  white-tailed 
ptarmigan  lives  above  the  timberline,  on  the  bare 
and  rugged  mountains,  south  of  the  Yukon.  This 
species  is  very  rare  and  is  seldom  seen,  except  by 
guides  who  know  just  where  they  live.  The  rock 
ptarmigan  is  somewhat  larger  than  his  cousins,  and 
is  rather  generally  distributed,  while  the  willow 
grouse  ptarmigan  is  commonly  found  over  all  the 
tundras  and  open  barrens  of  Alaska.  Every  one 
who  travels  throughout  the  Alaskan  mainland  soon 
becomes  familiar  with  the  willow  ptarmigan  and  its 
interesting  ways. 

Among  bird  actors  of  the  North  there  are  a  num- 
ber that  work  throughout  the  severity  of  the  long, 
cold  winter.  The  ravens  are  especially  famed  as 
aerial  performers,  and  may  be  seen  in  large  num- 
bers about  the  small  towns  and  villages,  perching  on 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    241 

the  house-tops  and  visiting  around  the  barns.  They 
spend  most  of  their  time  in  the  air,  where  they  cir- 
cle and  tumble  like  professional  acrobats  in  heels- 
over-head  movements,  and  close  their  act  by  a  long 
slide,  like  a  parachute  coming  to  earth.  These 
strange  performances  are  accompanied  by  a  series 
of  weird  croakings  and  cries,  in  which  all  the  group 
of  performers  participate.  They  give  their  show 
during  the  strongest  gale,  and  whirl,  tumble,  soar, 
twist,  and  glide,  like  a  bunch  of  frolicking  sea-gulls 
over  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Why  they  take  so  much 
joy  in  the  raging  storm,  no  one  knows.  However, 
it  must  be  remembered  that,  notwithstanding  their 
delightful  acts,  they  are  remorseless  pirates,  and 
rob,  plunder,  and  murder  the  young  of  other  birds, 
and  destroy  their  eggs  whenever  the  opportunity 
comes.  They  are  equalled  only  in  their  piracy  by 
their  contemporaries,  the  Alaskan  jays,  who  are  the 
northern  representatives  of  the  Canadian  jay,  and 
like  him,  are  called  "camp-robbers"  and  "whisky- 
jacks."  These  pirates  are  welcome  visitors  to  the 
camps,  however,  because  of  their  clever  and  auda- 
cious tricks  in  seeking  food.  When  encouraged, 
they  become  very  tame,  and  are  a  source  of  never- 
ending  amusement  in  the  Arctic  camps. 

The  strangest  of  all  aerial  actors  is  the  parson 
bird  of  New  Zealand.    It  has  two  white  tufts  which 


242    THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

hang  under  its  chin  exactly  like  the  white  bands 
formerly  used  by  clergymen — hence  the  name. 
These  interesting  tumblers  work  in  teams  of  six  to 
eight,  and  may  be  seen  on  clear  days  tumbling, 
wheeling,  soaring,  and  dropping  in  the  air — doing 
everything  known  to  the  modern  aviator,  from 
somersaults  to  sailing  upward  suddenly  like  a  sky- 
rocket, then  closing  their  wings  and  supporting 
themselves  by  a  rapid  beating  of  their  tails,  which 
suddenly  changes  into  a  gliding  parachute  descent. 
They  open  their  wings  upon  riearing  the  ground, 
and  then  either  suddenly  arise  again,  or  fly  away 
as  if  by  a  magic  sign,  and  disappear  in  the  dis- 
tance. 

The  female  pheasant  is  a  wanderer,  and  has  no 
permanent  place  of  abode,  except  when  she  has  a 
nest,  but  the  cock  is  so  devoted  to  his  theatre,  when 
once  it  is  established,  that  the  Malays,  who  thor- 
oughly understand  his  ways,  take  advantage  of  him 
in  a  most  ingenious  manner.  While  he  is  away  for 
food  or  recreation,  they  secretly  enter  his  theatre  or 
drawing-room  and  drive  a  thin  tough  bamboo  splin- 
ter, as  sharp  as  a  razor,  in  the  middle  of  the  floor. 
As  soon  as  the  actor  returns  he  seens  the  strange  ob- 
ject and  attempts  to  remove  it  by  pulling  with  his 
beak,  but  it  will  not  come,  and  finally  in  despera- 
tion he  wraps  his  neck  around  it,  and  with  a  des- 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    243 

perate  jerk  pulls  at  it.  It  does  not  budge,  but  the 
sharp  edges  cut  his  neck  almost  through,  and  he 
falls  a  victim  to  his  own  neat  and  practical  ways! 

Woodpeckers  are  fond  of  playing  hide-and-seek 
with  each  other  and  with  people.  This  game,  how- 
ever, is  not  all  sport,  but  partly  for  their  protec- 
tion. If  one  is  alarmed,  or  not  just  sure  who  his 
visitors  are,  he  hops  around  behind  a  branch  or  tree- 
trunk  and  peeps  out  to  see  who  approaches.  I  have 
seen  at  least  six  to  ten  red-headed  woodpeckers 
playing  hide-and-seek  on  a  dead  pine-tree  in  Texas. 
They  dodged  each  other,  flopped  their  pretty  wings 
and  lay  close  to  the  bark,  and  if  seen,  flew  away  to 
a  near-by  tree  to  continue  the  game.  Such  games 
tend  to  train  the  actors  for  self-defence  in  case  of 
danger. 

The  red-heads  have  a  cousin,  the  downy,  who  is 
the  best  known  of  all  the  woodpeckers.  He  is  a 
cheery  little  actor,  and  the  greatest  friend  of  man- 
kind. He  loves  company,  and  his  manner  of  dress 
is  most  charming.  He  wears  a  coat  of  black  and 
white  on  his  wings,  and  a  black  cap  trimmed  in  red. 
Of  his  thirty-six  varieties  of  cousins  in  America,  he 
is  the  most  industrious,  and  possibly  the  most  tal- 
ented. He  is  capable  of  running  a  successful  busi- 
ness besides  his  work  as  an  actor.  This  business  is 
that  of  raising  bugs!  Yes,  he  runs  a  bug  factory, 


244     THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

and  this  is  done  in  a  most  business-like  way:  he 
chisels  out  holes  in  live  trees,  and  insects  and  beetles 
come  there  to  deposit  their  eggs.  This  just  suits 
Downy,  and  as  soon  as  the  grubs  begin  to  hatch, 
Downy  pierces  them  with  his  tiny  sharp  tongue  and 
takes  them  to  his  babes  in  the  hollow-hole  in  the 
tall  pine-tree. 

Downy  has  a  northern  cousin  who  goes  south  in 
October  to  visit  him.  His  name  is  yellow-bellied 
sapsucker,  and  he  is  the  little  fellow  who  girdled 
your  apple-tree  last  spring  by  pecking  myriads  of 
tiny  holes  in  it  that  he  might  drink  the  delicious 
sap.  He  is  fond  of  several  kinds  of  drinks:  the 
sap  of  the  apple-tree,  the  juice  of  the  sugar-maple, 
and,  like  many  actors,  he  must  have  his  wine — this 
he  gets  from  the  juice  of  the  hemlock.  The  sap- 
sucker  often  returns  to  a  tree  which  he  has  girdled 
for  wines,  and  finds  a  number  of  little  creatures  who 
have  gone  there  to  drink  and  have  got  their  tiny 
feet  fastened  by  the  sticky  sap.  Mr.  Sapsucker 
eats  every  insect  within  reach,  and  tries  to  catch 
others  flying  near.  Unlike  his  cousin  Downy,  he 
never  digs  into  dead  wood  for  insects.  His  tongue 
is  not  long  and  sharp  enough  to  reach  into  the  holes 
and  spear  them;  for  the  end  of  it  is  more  like  a 
soft  mop  or  brush,  and  he  can  thus  use  it  to  better 


BIRD  ACTORS  AND  THEATRES    245 

advantage  in  gathering  sap  than  in  catching  in- 
sects. 

Downy  has  still  another  actor-cousin,  the  flicker, 
commonly  known  as  the  yellow-hammer.  He  has 
wonderful  manners,  and  the  black  spots  on  each 
side  of  his  face  give  him  the  appearance  of  a  gentle- 
man with  burnsides.  Gilbert  Pearson  relates  a 
marvellous  story  of  this  aristocratic  actor:  "Soon 
the  lady  bird  came  and  perched  near  her  mate. 
Though  she  had  no  burnsides,  she  had  a  strip  of 
red  across  the  back  of  her  head,  as  though  it  were 
her  hood  which  had  almost  slipped  off  backwards. 
How  oddly  Mr.  Flicker  acted  when  she  arrived! 
What  strange  antics  he  at  once  began  to  perform! 
He  bowed  to  his  mistress,  and  spread  his  pretty 
yellow  wings  like  a  cloak,  as  he  swept  now  forward, 
now  backward.  He  stepped  side-wise  and  danced 
gracefully  back  again.  He  bobbed,  he  bowed,  he 
displayed  his  every  charm.  A  brave  wooer  was  he 
as  he  laughingly,  pleadingly,  coaxingly  called  to 
her  in  his  mellowest  and  most  enticing  voice.  He 
said  many  things  I  could  not  understand, but  Yuch, 
yuch  was  what  he  seemed  most  to  say.  The  flicker 
is  a  devoted  and  demonstrative  lover,  and  he  pays 
homage  to  his  loved  one  at  home  or  afield  wherever 
he  meets  her." 

The  art  of  expression  among  birds  is  as  well  de- 


246   THE  HUMAN  SIDE  OF  BIRDS 

veloped  in  proportion  to  their  present  stage  of  prog- 
ress as  is  that  of  man,  and  in  dramatic  sense  and 
resources  they  are  hardly  less  gifted  than  man  him- 
self. Comedy  and  tragedy  they  effect  with  equal 
ease,  and  they  are  clever  at  burlesque  and  panto- 
mime. In  fact  there  is  hardly  any  phase  of  the 
modern  theatre  that  cannot  be  found  in  a  more  or 
less  highly  advanced  form  among  birds.  Surely 
they  are  our  brothers  in  the  arts! 


THE  END 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A    000035696    4 


